Stobart AT72 at Muenster on Sep 29th 2014, engine fire indication

Last Update: January 15, 2015 / 21:19:04 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 29, 2014

Classification
Incident

Cause
Engine fire indication

Airline
Stobart Air

Flight number
BE-6031

Departure
Muenster, Germany

Destination
Southend, United Kingdom

Aircraft Registration
EI-REM

Aircraft Type
ATR ATR-72-200

ICAO Type Designator
AT72

A Stobart (former Aer Arann) Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A on behalf of Flybe, registration EI-REM performing flight BE-6031 from Muenster (Germany) to Southend,EN (UK) with 22 people on board, was climbing out of Muenster when the crew received an engine (PW127) fire indication, shut the engine down, discharged the fire suppression system causing the fire indication to cease and returned to Muenster for a safe landing about 18 minutes after departure.

The airport reported they received information about an engine fire indication and "pressed the red button". All passengers were able to disembark safely after landing. The aircraft is currently being examined, it is not yet clear whether the engine was actually on fire or the fire indication was false.

On Oct 8th 2014 the French BEA reported in their weekly bulletin that there was an engine fire after takeoff.

On Jan 15th 2015 the German BFU reported in their seriously delayed September bulletin, that the aircraft was climbing through 1200 feet AGL when the crew heard an unusual sound and noticed fluctuations at the engine parameters of the left hand engine. The engine was reduced to idle, at that time two more unusual sounds occurred, the master caution activated and the fire warning for the left hand engine illuminated. The crew worked the memory items "engine fire at takeoff" shutting the engine down and dischaging the first fire bottle. 30 seconds after discharging the first fire bottle the second fire bottle was discharged too. The crew declared emergency and requested an immediate return to runway 07, ATC cleared the aircraft for a right turn and the approach to runway 25, the crew noticed only later that their intention to land on runway 07 was not met by the clearance and adjusted the navigation instruments to land on runway 25. Due to the height the captain decided to fly a 360 to lose height. On approach to runway 25 ATC advised that no fire or smoke was visible from the left hand engine, after safe landing attending emergency services reported no indications of an engine fire. The aircraft taxied to the apron with emergency services in trail.

The BFU reported that a visual examination of the exterior of the engine did not find any evidence of fire. However, within the cowling of the engine clear evidence of an engine fire was found, several tubes and pipes showed fire damage. Apart from the evidence of fire there were also indications of mechanical damage, the second stage of the power turbine held a number of damaged blades, the exhaust pipe showed cracks and holes. The oil scavenge line, vent line and pressure line showed damage between 6th and 7th bearing. Another oil line showed a gap of 3cm.

A borescopic inspection revealed the shaft connecting propeller, power turbine, starter and high pressure turbine was disconnected.

The engine has been sent to the manufacturer for examination under supervision by Canada's TSB.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 29, 2014

Classification
Incident

Cause
Engine fire indication

Airline
Stobart Air

Flight number
BE-6031

Departure
Muenster, Germany

Destination
Southend, United Kingdom

Aircraft Registration
EI-REM

Aircraft Type
ATR ATR-72-200

ICAO Type Designator
AT72

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