SA Airlink RJ85 at Cape Town on Aug 18th 2017, engine fire indication
Last Update: September 15, 2018 / 18:12:48 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 18, 2017
Classification
Incident
Cause
Engine fire indication
Airline
SA Airlink
Flight number
4Z-8676
Departure
Cape Town, South Africa
Destination
Pretoria, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ZS-ASZ
Aircraft Type
AVRO RJ-85 Avroliner
ICAO Type Designator
RJ85
A replacement RJ-85 registration ZS-SSJ reached Pretoria with a delay of 3.5 hours.
South Africa's CAA (SACAA) reported on Sep 20th 2017, that the aircraft was about 9nm southeast of the aerodrome when the crew declared emergency due to the #4 engine on fire.
On Sep 15th 2018 the SACAA released their final report concluding the probable cause of the serious incident was:
The fire warning indication was caused by a leak of hot oil mixed with compressor exit air from a ruptured no. 2 bearing oil scavenge tube that occurred during the breakdown of the no. 2 bearing pack.
The SACAA reported the aircraft was climbing through 6000 feet MSL when the crew received an engine fire warning for engine #4. The crew worked the related checklist and discharged the first fire extinguisher, the indication persisted however. The crew discharged the second fire extinguisher, the indication still continued. While on approach to Cape Town's runway 19 on a 2nm final the fire indication ceased. After landing emergency services reported seeing no fire or smoke.
The SACAA reported the aircraft logs did not reveal any abnormal oil uplift to engine #4 prior to the occurrence flight. An inspection of the engine revealed: "Bearing no.2 package had a worn seal which allowed more than normal compressor exit air into the bearing package via the lubricating system. The aerated oil increased the bearing scavenge oil temperature which caused the fire sleeve of the flexible section of the no.2 bearing oil scavenge tube to melt."
The SACAA further explained that both ends of the flexible section of the no.2 oil scavenge tube were moving freely although they should have been very tight. The SACAA wrote: "Hot oil mixed with compressor exit air leaked from a ruptured no. 2 bearing oil scavenge tube and is likely to have increased the temperature around the engine core to above 182°C which is the trigger temperature of the engine fire warning system."
The SACAA analysed: "Honeywell LF507 engines are a ‘ON CONDITION’ and therefore do not have a defined maximum allowable service life nor even a periodic inspection schedule. At 19 670 CSN the bearing can be subjectively considered to have had a high operating time and therefore it is likely to have failed due to natural fatigue."
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 18, 2017
Classification
Incident
Cause
Engine fire indication
Airline
SA Airlink
Flight number
4Z-8676
Departure
Cape Town, South Africa
Destination
Pretoria, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ZS-ASZ
Aircraft Type
AVRO RJ-85 Avroliner
ICAO Type Designator
RJ85
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
SA Airlink RJ85 at Pietermaritzburg on Aug 11th 2014, could not retract gear, unsafe gear
A South African Airlink Avro RJ-85 on behalf of South African Airways, registration ZS-ASZ performing flight 4Z-8732/SA-8732 from Pietermaritzburg to…
SA Airlink RJ85 at Cape Town on Oct 9th 2019, engine fire indication
A South African Airlines Avro RJ-85, registration ZS-TCP performing flight SA-8604 from Cape Town (South Africa) to Maun (Botswana) with 12…
Fleet type match
SA Airlink E170 at Harare on Jan 13th 2021, bird strike
An SA Airlink Embraer ERJ-170, registration ZS-YBC performing flight 4Z-103 from Harare to Johannesburg (South Africa), was climbing out of Harare's…
SA Airlink RJ85 at Johannesburg on Mar 27th 2019, engine shut down in flight
A SA Airlink Avro RJ-85, registration ZS-SSJ performing flight SA-8769 from Johannesburg to Upington (South Africa) with 25 passengers and 4 crew,…
Fleet type match
SA Airlink E170 at Kimberley on Jan 23rd 2020, bird strike
A South African Airlink Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of SAA South African Airways, registration ZS-YBC performing flight SA-8428 from Kimberley to…
Fleet type match
SA Airlink E135 at Kasane on Feb 26th 2019, bird strike
A South African Airlink Embraer ERJ-135, registration ZS-SJX performing flight 4Z-8307/SA-8307 from Kasane (Botswana) to Johannesburg (South Africa),…
Newest articles
Dana MD82 at Lagos on Apr 23rd 2024, runway excursion
A Dana Air McDonnell Douglas MD-82, registration 5N-BKI performing flight 9J-352 from Abuja to Lagos (Nigeria) with 83 passengers and 6 crew, landed…
Fleet type match
LATAM Brasil A320 at Brasilia on May 13th 2024, engine shut down in flight
A LATAM Brasil Airbus A320-200, registration PR-MYI performing flight LA-3008 from Sao Paulo Congonhas,SP to Brasilia,DF (Brazil) with 106 people on…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
Your regulation partner, specialists in aviation safety and compliance; providing training, auditing, and consultancy services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways