Spicejet DH8D near Nagpur on Nov 24th 2017, smoke in cabin and cockpit

Last Update: May 8, 2019 / 17:02:34 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 24, 2017

Classification
Report

Cause
Smoke in cabin

Airline
Spicejet

Flight number
SG-1096

Departure
Hyderabad, India

Destination
Jabalpur, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-SUM

Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (400)

ICAO Type Designator
DH8D

A Spicejet de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration VT-SUM performing flight SG-1096 from Hyderabad to Jabalpur (India) with 59 passengers and 4 crew, was enroute at FL250 about 80nm from Nagpur (India) when cabin crew informed the flght deck about smoke in the cabin. A search for the source of the smoke (fire) did not reveal any source, the flight crew decided to divert to Nagpur. During the descent the aft cargo bay smoke indication activated, the crew discharged the fire suppression into the cargo bay. Shortly afterwards the lavatory smoke detector activated, and smoke became noticeable in the cockpit. The flight crew donned their oxygen masks, the forward cargo fire extinguisher was also discharged. While on approach to Nagpur the crew received a low oil pressure indication for the #2 engine (PW150, right hand). The crew continued for a safe landing on Nagpur's runway 32, taxied to the stand where the crew shut the engines down and instructed the cabin crew to evacuate the aircraft through the left door.

India's DGCA released their final report concluding the probable cause of the serious incident was:

The incident occurred as No. 3 Bearing Carbon Seal failed in service
resulting in oil leak into the gas path causing oil fumes getting into the
aircraft cabin through the Bleed Off Valves.

The DGCA analysed that two service bulletins had been issued by the engine manufacturer: "Service Bulletin 35341 replaces the #3 Brg. carbon seal with one made from a carbon grade that is more resistant to high temperatures and humid environments. Similarly, the SB No. 35342R1 requires that No. 2.5 bearing seal be replaced with new one that has an increased minimum spring load to prevent potential spinning of the air/oil bearing seal ring."

The DGCA analysed the subject serious incident:

Scrutiny of the engine records revealed that though the engine had a shop visit earlier, No. 3 bearing compartment Carbon Seal was of pre Service Bulletin 35341 configuration. The reason for the non-replacement of seal during that shop visit was that the area of the engine required for replacement could not be accessed which is in line with the SB No. 35341 issued by manufacturer on the subject.

In the present case, the #1, #2.5, #3 and #4 bearings had all suffered some form of damage resulting in generation of metal chips. The damage could be attributed to a combination of lack of lubrication as well as vibrations due to imbalance seen in the LPC.

To conclude, the aircraft incident is attributed to the #3 Bearing Carbon Seal that had failed in service and caused oil to leak into the gas path. This caused oil fumes to be released into the aircraft cabin through the Bleed Off Valves. Eventually enough oil was lost to cause the engine to loose oil pressure and trigger the Low Oil Pressure indication in the cockpit.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 24, 2017

Classification
Report

Cause
Smoke in cabin

Airline
Spicejet

Flight number
SG-1096

Departure
Hyderabad, India

Destination
Jabalpur, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-SUM

Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (400)

ICAO Type Designator
DH8D

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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