A319, London Heathrow UK, 2013

A319, London Heathrow UK, 2013

Summary

On 24 May 2013 the fan cowl doors on both engines of an Airbus A319 detached as it took off from London Heathrow. Their un-latched status after a routine maintenance input had gone undetected. Extensive structural and system damage resulted and a fire which could not be extinguished until the aircraft was back on the ground began in one engine. Many previously-recorded cases of fan cowl door loss were noted but none involving such significant collateral damage. Safety Recommendations were made on aircraft type certification in general, A320-family aircraft modification, maintenance fatigue risk management and aircrew procedures and training.

Description

On 24 May 2013, an Airbus A319 [G-EUOE] being operated by British Airways on a scheduled passenger flight from London Heathrow to Oslo lost the fan cowl doors on both engines at take off in day Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). During the subsequent return to land, an external fire began on the right engine which could not be extinguished even after it had been shut down. A 'MAYDAY’ was declared to ATC and after stopping on the runway, the fire on the right hand side was put out and an emergency evacuation took place on the left hand side. None of the 80 occupants were injured during evacuation but the aircraft sustained extensive debris impact and fire damage mainly to the right hand engine and wing.

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