Westjet B737 at Calgary on Apr 29th 2012, blast of hot air from rudder pedals

Last Update: May 11, 2012 / 23:35:31 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Apr 29, 2012

Airline
Westjet Airlines

Flight number
WS-447

Departure
Calgary, Canada

Destination
Vancouver, Canada

Aircraft Registration
C-FIBW

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-700

ICAO Type Designator
B737

A Westjet Boeing 737-700, registration C-FIBW performing flight WS-447 from Calgary,AB to Vancouver,BC (Canada) with 122 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Calgary's runway 28 when immediately after rotation a strong smell of fumes along with a blast of hot air from the rudder pedals was noticed in the cockpit. Before the aircraft reached 1000 feet AGL the purser contacted the flight deck reporting a smokey odour in the cabin. The crew declared emergency, levelled off at 5000 feet and returned to Calgary for a safe landing on Calgary's runway 34 about 8 minutes after departure and stopped on the runway. Emergency services found no trace of fire or heat.

The Canadian TSB reported prior to the departure maintenance had prepared the left hand engine for a borescopic inspection within an E2 check. The borescopic inspection plug had been removed, but then it was determined that the borescopic inspection could not proceed due to the tight tolerances on the new engine. Anti-seize compound was applied to plug and the plug was re-installed. As the borescopic inspection had not been conducted the engine run required after such an inspection was not performed. It is believed that heated residual anti-seize compound on and around the borescope inspection plug caused the smoke.

A replacement Boeing 737-700 registration C-FXWJ reached Vancouver with a delay of 2.5 hours.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
C-FIBW
Country of Registration
Canada
Date of Registration
NdmnhgAlinqA Subscribe to unlock
Certification Basis
BkckgjplqhhkAmglcegAAbqk f i Albjlgqdghcicpgn Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
iif Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
Boeing
Aircraft Model / Type
737-7CT
ICAO Aircraft Type
B737
Year of Manufacture
JAef Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Himil Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
dhihf Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Nbhni Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
L Subscribe to unlock
Engine Type
Gehnjipq Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
Hdjqqhnicpnf ipjge gAkmenjfelel lAbj hm jchAncgAlilkfdcjpifpf Subscribe to unlock

Aircraft registration data reproduced and distributed with the permission of the Government of Canada.

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Apr 29, 2012

Airline
Westjet Airlines

Flight number
WS-447

Departure
Calgary, Canada

Destination
Vancouver, Canada

Aircraft Registration
C-FIBW

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-700

ICAO Type Designator
B737

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