Jetstar A320 over Tasman Sea on Oct 28th 2017, spitting engine
Last Update: February 27, 2018 / 16:02:18 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Oct 28, 2017
Classification
Incident
Airline
Jetstar Airways
Flight number
JQ-202
Departure
Auckland, New Zealand
Destination
Sydney, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-VGY
Aircraft Type
Airbus A320
ICAO Type Designator
A320
The airline reported a ground handler had put a plastic clipboard onto the cowl of an engine and forgot about it. Later debris was seen being ejected from the engine's tailpipe. The crew was notified and called back to Auckland. An inspection of the engine found minor damage, the engine was repaired and the aircraft returned to service.
The aircraft returned to service about 7 hours after landing.
On Nov 16th 2017 Australia's TSB ATSB reported: "After take-off, air traffic control notified the crew that during taxi a visible paper trail was reportedly emanating from the number two engine. The crew returned the aircraft to Auckland where it was determined ground crew had left a clipboard on the engine inlet cowling, which was subsequently ingested into the engine." The ATSB rated the occurrence an incident and opened an investigation.
On Feb 27th 2018 the ATSB released their final report concluding the probable causes of the incident were:
While preparing the aircraft for departure, the leading hand placed a clipboard in the right engine, which was subsequently ingested during start-up.
During the walk-around, the dispatcher noticed the clipboard in the right engine, but believing it would be retrieved prior to the aircraft departing, the dispatcher did not notify the leading hand or supervisor of the foreign object debris as per company procedures.
The ATSB described the sequence of events:
At about 1909, the leading hand had finished loading the last container into the aircraft hold and was organising his paperwork. As it was raining, he decided to put the clipboard in the right engine (No. 2) cowling to stop his paperwork from becoming wet and blown by the wind, with the intention to retrieve it later. The leading hand went to the flight deck, gave some paperwork to the flight crew, and returned to the ground to organise the aircraft’s push back.
At about 1919, the dispatcher cleared the ground and servicing equipment from the aircraft and conducted the ‘duty of care’ walk-around. During the walk-around, she noticed the clipboard in the right engine and thought that the leading hand would return for it, so she continued with the walk-around. Soon after, the engines reportedly started normally.
At about 1925, when the aircraft was taxiing, the leading hand realised his clipboard with the paperwork was missing and thought the dispatcher had the paperwork. The leading hand asked the dispatcher about the clipboard and she mentioned she saw it in the right engine during the walk-around. The ground crew returned to where they were preparing the aircraft and noticed paper debris on the ground. The ground crew organised for their operations area to contact the flight crew.
At about 1937, the aircraft departed. Shortly after, when on climb through flight level3 150, the flight crew received a radio call from the Auckland Approach air traffic controller to contact the surface movement controller. The captain handed control of the aircraft to the first officer and contacted the surface movement controller who advised that the ground crew had lost their paperwork and it may have been placed on the engine. The captain requested further information about the paperwork, specifically whether the paper was on top of the engine or inside the inlet. The flight crew checked the engine instruments and there were no abnormal indications. The surface movement controller confirmed that the paperwork was placed within the inlet and paper debris was found on the tarmac (Figure 1). The captain then contacted the company engineer at the airport and asked whether it was just paperwork or a clipboard with a metal clip. The engineer advised that a piece of sheared metal had been found. The flight crew decided to return to Auckland.
After landing at about 2048, the engine was inspected by engineers and paper was found throughout the engine. They also found minor damage to an engine fan blade and attrition liner.
The ATSB released following safety message:
The presence of foreign object debris poses a significant threat to aircraft safety. It has the potential to cause aircraft damage during critical phases of flight, costing airlines and airports millions of dollars each year. This incident demonstrates the effect foreign object debris has on aircraft operations and emphasises the importance of not placing objects in aircraft engines. It further highlights that all staff operating near aircraft are responsible for reporting any non-normal events they encounter. It should not be assumed that others will perform a task where a hazard has been identified. Assuming other people will undertake a task, such as removing a hazard increases the risk of the task not being completed.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Oct 28, 2017
Classification
Incident
Airline
Jetstar Airways
Flight number
JQ-202
Departure
Auckland, New Zealand
Destination
Sydney, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-VGY
Aircraft Type
Airbus A320
ICAO Type Designator
A320
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
Jetstar A320 at Christchurch on Aug 6th 2019, descent below minimum safe height on approach
A Jetstar Airbus A320-200, registration VH-VGY performing flight JQ-291 from Wellington to Christchurch (New Zealand) with 128 passengers and 6 crew,…
Jetstar A320 at Melbourne on Mar 16th 2024, rejected takeoff due to open communication hatch
A Jetstar Airbus A320-200, registration VH-VQJ performing flight JQ-739 from Melbourne,VI to Launceston,TA (Australia), was accelerating for takeoff…
Jetstar B788 near Guam on Sep 13th 2023, cracked windshield
A Jetstar Boeing 787-8, registration VH-VKE performing flight JQ-26 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Cairns,QL (Australia) with 220 people on board, was…
Jetstar A320 at Brisbane on May 23rd 2023, chemical smell on board
A Jetstar Airbus A320-200, registration VH-XNP performing flight JQ-904 from Brisbane,QL to Townsville,QL (Australia), was climbing out of Brisbane…
Jetstar A320 at Adelaide on Mar 24th 2023, hydraulic problem
A Jetstar Airbus A320-200, registration VH-VGU performing flight JQ-681 from Adelaide,SA to Hobart,TA (Australia), was enroute at FL350 about 170nm…
Jetstar B788 at ;Melbourne and Coolangatta on May 7th 2022, lightning strikes
A Jetstar Boeing 787-8, registration VH-VKL performing flight JQ-444 from Melbourne,VI to Coolangatta,QL (Australia), departed Melbourne's runway 34,…
Newest articles
Corendon Europe B738 at Gazipasa on May 9th 2024, nose wheel failures
A Corendon Airlines Europe Boeing 737-800, registration 9H-TJF performing flight XC-1031 from Cologne (Germany) to Gazipasa (Turkey) with 184…
Transair Senegal B733 at Dakar on May 9th 2024, runway excursion on takeoff
A Transair Senegal Boeing 737-300, registration 6V-AJE performing flight R2-3043 from Dakar (Senegal) to Bamako (Mali) with 73 people on board, was…
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