Cityjet RJ85 near Dublin on May 22nd 2014, smoke in cockpit and cabin

Last Update: August 27, 2015 / 14:38:17 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
May 22, 2014

Classification
Incident

Airline
Cityjet

Flight number
WX-118

Aircraft Registration
EI-RJH

ICAO Type Designator
RJ85

A Cityjet Avro RJ-85, registration EI-RJH performing flight WX-118/AF-3135 from Dublin (Ireland) to London City,EN (UK) with 48 passengers and 4 crew, was climbing out of Dublin when the crew donned their oxygen masks, stopped the climb at about FL120 reporting smoke in the cockpit and a cracked windshield. The aircraft returned to Dublin, on approach the crew advised the smoke appeared to be dissipating in the cockpit, there were still significant fumes in the cabin however, and performed a safe landing on runway 28 about 15 minutes after departure.

The airline reported that there was no cracked windshield. The cause of the fumes/smoke is being investigated.

On Aug 27th 2015 the Irish AAIU released their final report without a formal conclusion but depicting only the facts.

The AAIU reported that the aircraft had departed Dublin's runway 34 and was climbing out, when the crew engaged engine bleed air and both air conditioning packs but immediately noticed fumes and smoke enter the cockpit. The wind screen de-ice system was on, the engine anti-ice system was off, all engine parameters remained normal. The flight crew donned their oxygen masks and smoke goggles, declared PAN and made an immediate return to Dublin, cabin crew reported there was smoke and fumes also in the cabin.

The AAIU reported that the captain stated the fumes appeared to be oil based. The smoke dissipated during the approach when the crew ram ventilated the cabin. The passengers disembarked normally.

An engineering examination found oil around the #4 engine's compressor exit (outboard right hand, LF507). The engine was removed and sent for analysis, the engine had operated 318 hours since last overhaul. On disassembly of the engine an oil leak was found at the high pressure turbine diffuser. The AAIU wrote: "The plate that is welded around the oil inlet pipe to the No. 2 bearing housing was found to have fractured and had located itself under the remaining plate and was contacting the inlet pipe. Upon pressure testing of the diffuser and No. 2 bearing housing it was evident that the leak was from the oil inlet pipe. Bleed air, taken from this section of the engine, is used to supply the air conditioning packs. Thus, it is probable that the bleed air supplied to the air conditioning packs was contaminated by oil leaking from the pipe, which in turn led to the smoke and fumes entering the cockpit and cabin."
Incident Facts

Date of incident
May 22, 2014

Classification
Incident

Airline
Cityjet

Flight number
WX-118

Aircraft Registration
EI-RJH

ICAO Type Designator
RJ85

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