Vietnam A321 at Ho Chi Minh City on Mar 18th 2020, rejected takeoff due to uncontained engine failure sets grass alight

Last Update: July 1, 2025 / 08:15:45 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 18, 2020

Classification
Incident

Airline
Vietnam Airlines

Flight number
VN-920

Departure
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Destination
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Aircraft Registration
VN-A392

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration VN-A392 performing flight VN-920 from Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) to Phnom Penh (Cambodia), was accelerating for takeoff from Ho Chi Minh City's runway 25L when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed due to an "ENG 2 FAIL" indication. The aircraft came to a stop about 1600 meters/5250 feet down the runway. Emergency services responded, not only because of the rejected takeoff but also because of a large smoke plume rising from the grass at the right side of the runway. Emergency services put the grass fire out within about 10 minutes. The passengers disembarked onto the runway via mobile stairs and were taken to the terminal, the aircraft was subsequently towed to the apron.

The airline reported there was a technical issue with one of the nose wheel tyres, there was no fire or explosion on the aircraft. The crew rejected takeoff and stopped safely. There were no injuries.

Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority reported a part of the tyre impacted and damaged the side of the right hand engine's (V2533) cover, which in turn caused the grass fire. The CAA have opened an investigation into the occurrence.

On Mar 22nd 2020 (Mar 21st 2020 US East Coast Time) the FAA released an emergency airworthiness directive EAD-2020-07-51 for all International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines.

The FAA argues: "This emergency AD was prompted by investigative findings from an event that occurred on March 18, 2020, in which an Airbus Model A321-231 airplane, powered by IAE V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk failure that resulted in an aborted takeoff. This condition, if not addressed, could result in release of high-energy debris, damage to the engine, damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane."

Operators of such engines are required to determined whether a HPT first stage disk of specific serial numbers are installed and if so, remove those HPT stage 1 disks from the engine within 5 cycles.

On Apr 9th 2020 the NTSB reported: "The government of Vietnam has notified the NTSB of an incident involving an Airbus A321 airplane that occurred on March 18, 2020. A Vietnam Airbus A321-231 powered by two International Aero Engines V2533-A5 turbofan engines experienced a No. 2 (right) engine high pressure turbine disk rupture and uncontainment during the takeoff roll from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The Captain performed a rejected takeoff and the airplane was stopped safely on the runway; no injuries were report and no evacuation was necessary. Post event engine inspection confirmed a high pressure turbine stage 1 disk had burst and penetrated through the engine case and engine cowling."

On Jun 17th 2020 The Aviation Herald learned that the crew heard a loud bang from the right hand side followed by an ECAM "ENG 2 FAIL" indication. The aircraft also began to veer to the right side. The captain took control of the aircraft and rejected takeoff at 130 KIAS. After the aircraft came to a stop the ECAM actions were performed including discharging the fire agent. As result of the rejected takeoff tyre #4 deflated. An assessment by tower and crew indicated no emergency evacuation was needed. The passengers disembarked normally onto the runway and were bussed to the terminal.

On Jan 6th 2021 the FAA released another Airworthiness Directive AD-2021-01-03 now also including the high pressure turbine stage 2 disks reasoning:

On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model A321-231 airplane, powered by IAE V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 1st-stage disk failure that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling. Based on a preliminary analysis of this event, on March 21, 2020, the FAA issued Emergency AD 2020-07-51, which requires the removal from service of certain HPT 1st-stage disks installed on IAE V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527EA5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines.

Since the FAA issued AD 2020-07-51, the manufacturer conducted a root cause analysis and identified a different population of HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks that are affected by the unsafe condition and require removal from service. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the HPT, uncontained HPT failure, damage to the engine, damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

AD Requirements

This AD requires the removal from service of certain HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks installed on IAE V2500-A1, V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527MA5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, V2531-E5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines.

In June 2025 the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam released their final report concluding the probable causes of the serious incident were:

By combining the methods used to analyze the 02 fragments of the HPT 1st stage disc and the review of the manufacturing process of this disc, the engine manufacturer P&W have found defects in the production process, the cause of the incidents as follows:

- The manufacturer found inclusion mixed into the core of the metal ingot during the processing of the HPT 1st stage disc billet with dimensions of 0.016 inches x 0.0025 inches (0.4064 x 0.0635). mm), however, it could not be positively determined how the inclusion was mixed in during the manufacturing process of HPT 1st stage disc.

- Investigative analysis showed that the Non-Metallic Inclusion and abnormal develops reaction zone had formed during thermal processing with dimensions 0.033 inches x 0.007 inches (0.8382 x 0.1778 mm).

- Because of the presence of inclusion, an Intergranular crack-like anomaly forms during high-temperature manufacturing process. Sonic inspection did not identify a crack-like anomaly beyond acceptable limits at fracture location. The part is shipped with approx. 0.120” x 0.075” (3,048 x 1.905 mm) crack-like anomaly in bore.

- The formation of crack-like irregularities in the bore of the HPT 1st stage disc combined with the engine operation has created tension on the bore of the HPT 1st stage disc and cause the disc rupture.