Fedex MD10 at Portland on Feb 13th 2012, rejected takeoff due to uncontained engine failure
Last Update: September 21, 2013 / 18:36:54 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 13, 2012
Classification
Report
Cause
Rejected takeoff
Airline
Fedex
Flight number
FX-977
Departure
Portland, United States
Destination
Oakland, United States
Aircraft Registration
N304FE
Aircraft Type
McDonnell Douglas MD-10-30
ICAO Type Designator
MD10
An inspection revealed no damage/penetration to the engine cowling and no damage to the airframe.
On May 22nd 2013 the NTSB released their factual report stating, that when during examination the fan of the left hand engine was manually rotated, the low pressure turbine did not rotate with it, the low pressure turbine could not be moved for being seized. Further inspection revealed penetration holes and tears in the low pressure turbine case and another hole was found in the turbine rear frame.
Disassembly of the engine revealed that the fan mid shaft had fractured, the center vent tube and high pressure compressor air duct were also fractured. All low pressure turbine blades showed tip fractures. All engine main line bearings were intact except for bearing #7 which was found seized despite being wet with oil. The NTSB stated: "Five of the No. 7 bearing roller elements were missing and all the remaining roller elements were heat discolored black and most were flattened. The No. 7 bearing cage was damaged and heat discolored but was intact. The inner race aft edge was damaged and material was rolled."
Debris found inside the engine were identified ester based engine oil residue typically found in turbine engines. The engine manufacturer concluded, "that the stress corrosion cracking observed on the fan mid shaft was caused primarily due to the breakdown of a synthetic oil product inside the FMS during both storage and engine operation".
The NTSB reported: "The LPT stage 2 and 3 interstage seals installed in the engine were the new configuration that were recommended by Safety Board Recommendation A-98-125, introduced by GE SB CF6-50 72-1268, and mandated by Airworthiness Directive AD 2005-26-06 to address safety concerns that when a FMS separation occurs it leads to a LPT stage 1 disk overspeed and uncontained failure."
On Sep 21st 2013 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the incident was:
The fracture of the fan mid shaft due to a stress corrosion cracking initiated by local regions of corrosion pitting, which resulted from oil migration within the shaft and its subsequent degradation.
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 13, 2012
Classification
Report
Cause
Rejected takeoff
Airline
Fedex
Flight number
FX-977
Departure
Portland, United States
Destination
Oakland, United States
Aircraft Registration
N304FE
Aircraft Type
McDonnell Douglas MD-10-30
ICAO Type Designator
MD10
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
Fedex B752 at Chattanooga on Oct 4th 2023, hydraulic problem, unsafe gear, main gear up landing, runway overrun
A Fedex Federal Express Boeing 757-200 freighter, registration N977FD performing flight FX-1376 from Chattanooga,TN to Memphis,TN (USA) with 3 crew,…
Fleet type match
Fedex B763 at Newark on Mar 1st 2025, engine fire due to bird strike
A Fedex Federal Express Boeing 767-300, registration N178FE performing flight FX-3609 from Newark,NJ to Indianapolis,IN (USA) with 3 crew, was…
Fedex B763 at Memphis on Oct 18th 2023, engine fire
A Fedex Federal Express Boeing 767-300, registration N287FE performing flight FX-541 from Memphis,TN to Las Vegas,NV (USA), was climbing out of…
Fleet type match
Fedex B763 at Istanbul on May 8th 2024, nose gear up landing
A Fedex Federal Express Boeing 767-300 freighter, registration N110FE performing flight FX-6238 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Istanbul…
Fedex B763 and Southwest B737 at Austin on Feb 4th 2023, loss of separation on runway resolved by go around
A Fedex Federal Express Boeing 767-300, registration N297FE performing flight FX-1432 from Memphis,TN to Austin,TX (USA), was on final for a CATIII…
Newest articles
Fleet type match
UPS MD11 at Louisville on Nov 4th 2025, burst into flames on takeoff
A UPS United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration N259UP performing flight 5X-2976 from Louisville,KY to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 3…
Fleet type match
India A20N near Bhopal on Nov 3rd 2025, cargo smoke indication
An Air India Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-EXO performing flight AI-2487 from Delhi to Bangalore (India) with 172 people on board, was enroute at…
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
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.
SafetyScan Pro provides streamlined access to thousands of aviation accident reports. Tailored for your safety management efforts. Book your demo today
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways