Lufthansa A319 near Hamburg on Jun 16th 2017, smell of smoke in cockpit and cabin
Last Update: December 4, 2018 / 14:54:37 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jun 16, 2017
Classification
Incident
Airline
Lufthansa
Flight number
LH-16
Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Destination
Hamburg, Germany
Aircraft Registration
D-AILR
Aircraft Type
Airbus A319
ICAO Type Designator
A319
Emergency services reported they were alerted to smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft stopped on the runway, the occupants disembarked via stairs, all passengers were examined by medical staff, 4 of the crew were taken to a hospital as a precaution. The aircraft was towed off the runway about 30 minutes after landing.
The airline reported there had been a strong smell of smoke in cockpit and cabin, in addition one of the smoke detectors triggered and sounded an alarm.
On Dec 4th 2018 the BFU released their final summary report stating just the facts reporting following technical dysfunction was determined:
The maintenance organisation of the operator examined the left air conditioning system (PACK No. 1) and determined that the cause for the smoke development was a defective air cycle machine. As part of the maintenance work, the air cycle machine and a recirculation filter were replaced. After the components had been installed both air conditioning systems (PACKS No. 1 and 2) were checked. Their proper function, without any irregularities, was determined. On 17 June 2017 the aircraft was released to service.
The maintenance organisation examined the removed air cycle machine and determined the following: The turbine casing showed heavy chafing marks caused by the turbine wheel. The surface was scratched and showed chafing marks caused by the high temperatures the chafing of the turbine wheel had generated.
The dark colour was caused by carbon deposits during normal operation.
The turbine wheel showed corresponding rubber marks resulting from the chafing against the turbine casing. The dark colour at the air intake of the turbine wheel was due to carbon deposits during normal operation.
The thrust bearing showed chafing marks and rubbed-off anti-friction coating.
On the turbine side the disc showed chafing marks.
At the turbine side the journal bearing failed. This journal bearing was an air bearing.
The thrust bearing failed and the disc chafed against the anti-friction coated metal with high rotational speed. This caused the overheating of the air bearing. The failure of one of the journal bearings at the turbine side was identified as the cause of the smoke and smell development. The maintenance organisation stated that such a damage pattern is not unusual if an air cycle machine fails.
During normal operation of the air bearings the metal does not come into contact with the disc. The journal bearing failed and caused a compressor shaft imbalance. It chafed against the inside of the turbine casing. The turbine casing and the compressor shaft consisted of an aluminium alloy.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jun 16, 2017
Classification
Incident
Airline
Lufthansa
Flight number
LH-16
Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Destination
Hamburg, Germany
Aircraft Registration
D-AILR
Aircraft Type
Airbus A319
ICAO Type Designator
A319
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
Lufthansa A359 at Montreal on May 15th 2023, hydraulic failure
A Lufthansa Airbus A350-900, registration D-AIVB performing flight LH-474 from Munich (Germany) to Montreal,QC (Canada) with 308 people on board, was…
Lufthansa B748 at Buenos Aires on Apr 29th 2023, could not retract landing gear
A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8, registration D-ABYP performing flight LH-511 from Buenos Aires Ezeiza,BA (Argentina) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was…
Lufthansa B744 enroute on Apr 15th 2023, hydraulic problem
A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400, registration D-ABVY performing flight LH-760 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Delhi (India), was enroute at FL350 about…
Lufthansa B748 over Atlantic on Apr 3rd 2023, hydraulic problems
A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8, registration D-ABYG performing flight LH-462 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Miami,FL (USA), was enroute at FL340 over the…
Lufthansa A21N at Frankfurt on Mar 31st 2023, lightning strike
A Lufthansa Airbus A321-200N, registration D-AIEP performing flight LH-1531 from Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was on…
Newest articles
Gol B738 near Teresina on Jun 4th 2023, suspected fuel leak
A Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-800, registration PR-GTM performing flight G3-1709 from Fortaleza,CE to Brasilia,DF (Brazil), was enroute at…
Ethiopian B772 at Shanghai on Jul 22nd 2020, aircraft burned down on apron
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-200 freighter, registration ET-ARH performing flight ET-3739 from Shanghai Pudong (China) to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia),…
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

A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.

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