Jet Airways AT72 at Bangalore on Jun 15th 2016, engine fire, smoke in cabin

Last Update: March 7, 2018 / 16:30:06 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 15, 2016

Classification
Incident

Flight number
9W-2839

Destination
Mangalore, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-JCL

Aircraft Type
ATR ATR-72-200

ICAO Type Designator
AT72

A Jet Airways Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration VT-JCL performing flight 9W-2839 from Bangalore to Mangalore (India) with 67 passengers and 4 crew, was in the initial climb out of Bangalore when smoke started to develop in the cabin, passengers at the same time observed flames from one of the engines (PW127). The crew shut the engine down and activated the fire suppression system, the aircraft returned to Bangalore for a safe landing about 15 minutes after departure. The occupants were evacuated while emergency services doused the engine. Three passengers received minor injuries as result of the evacuation.

The airport reported, the runway was closed for about 30 minutes while passengers were evacuated and fire engines doused flames. There were no injuries.

The airline reported the aircraft returned to Bangalore following an engine fire, as result of which the cabin filled with smoke. Standard evacuation procedures were performed, there were no injuries although 5 passengers were taken to a medical room for a check.

On Jun 22nd 2016 the French BEA reported based on India's notifications, that the aircraft returned due to smoke in the cabin. The occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated by India's Accident Investigation Board.

On Mar 7th 2018 India's DGCA released their final report concluding the probable causes of the serious incident were:

Probable cause of Smoke in cabin was contamination of bleed air by engine oil due to failure of the air/oil seals of turbine shaft bearings and impeller bearings caused by the heavy vibration consequent to failure of PT2 blades.

Not carrying out Eddy Current Inspection as per SI-02-14 or EMM 72-03-00 and SB 21786 was a contributory factor to Serious Incident.

The DGCA reported that immediately after takeoff the crew received a master caution for a few seconds. As all parameters remained normal the crew continued. At around 6000 feet the flight crew received a call from the cabin crew advising them of smoke in the cabin. The crew declared PAN and returned to Bangalore, while the smoke was thickening, the source of the smoke could not be determined. On final approach to runway 27 passengers observed flames from the #2 engine, the cabin crew verified there were flames visible from the engine, and the flight crew received an engine fire warning. The fire indication continued even after both fire bottles were discharged and extinguished about 30 seconds prior to touch down. 3 passengers received minor injuries as result of the evacuation.

A post flight inspection of the right hand engine revealed:

- No 6 and 7 bearing vent tube were cracked.
- One blade of the 2nd stage power turbine was found fractured at the base.
- Another blade of the 2nd stage power turbine was found fractured close to the middle.
- Nick marks and damage were noticed on many other Power Turbine blades.
- The power turbine shroud housing showed impact damage
- Shroud had some material missing from it.

The DGCA analysed:

The aircraft had a valid certificate of airworthiness on the date of incident. The last major inspection on the aircraft was carried out in May 2016 and aircraft did not have any pending snag and was neither operating under any MEL.

Both the engines were serviceable and did not have any pending snags. The ECI introduced as per SI-14-2014 was not carried out because the SI was not applicable to Engine Serial Number AV00112. The ECI was later introduced in EMM in Aug 2015; however the engine was overhauled in July 2014 before introduction of ECI in EMM.

SB 21786 for replacement of PT blades with new blades having chromium coating was also not complied on the engine as it was a compliance Category - 7 bulletin.

Not carrying out ECI and SB 21786 was a contributory factor to Serious Incident.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 15, 2016

Classification
Incident

Flight number
9W-2839

Destination
Mangalore, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-JCL

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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