Boeing 767-3G5ER – EI-CXO

Incident Overview

Date: Friday 16 July 2004

Aircraft Type: Boeing 767-3G5ER

Owner/operator: Blue Panorama Airlines

Registration Number: EI-CXO

Location: Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO/LIRF) – ÿ Italy

Phase of Flight: Take off

Status: Substantial

Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 287

Component Affected: The Pratt & Whitney – PW 4062 engine.The Pratt & Whitney – PW 4062 engine.

Investigating Agency: ANSVANSV

Category: Accident

On September 7th, 2004, an aviation incident occurred involving a Pratt & Whitney – PW 4062 engine on a large aircraft fleet. A right engine exploded, causing a fire that led to a significant loss of fuel and subsequent damage to the aircraft. The incident began during takeoff, with the aircraft electing to continue the take-off and subsequently landing on the 34L runway due to the fire’s location in the right engine. The Captain initiated emergency actions, and the fire was contained before it could dump fuel. The aircraft experienced deflation of all tires. The evacuation of 287 passengers was conducted without injury, and the airplane suffered no further damage apart from the damaged right engine. The enquiry established that the blast and fire originated from a leaking high-pressure fuel hose, leading to substantial fuel leakage during taxi. Efforts are underway to determine the causes of this rupture, and the Pratt & Whitney engine powers a large fleet of over 2000 engines worldwide. The FAA issued three urgent Safety Recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the incident, focusing on a test and modification program for all engines of the same type.On September 7th, 2004, an aviation incident occurred involving a Pratt & Whitney – PW 4062 engine on a large aircraft fleet. A right engine exploded, causing a fire that led to a significant loss of fuel and subsequent damage to the aircraft. The incident began during takeoff, with the aircraft electing to continue the take-off and subsequently landing on the 34L runway due to the fire’s location in the right engine. The Captain initiated emergency actions, and the fire was contained before it could dump fuel. The aircraft experienced deflation of all tires. The evacuation of 287 passengers was conducted without injury, and the airplane suffered no further damage apart from the damaged right engine. The enquiry established that the blast and fire originated from a leaking high-pressure fuel hose, leading to substantial fuel leakage during taxi. Efforts are underway to determine the causes of this rupture, and the Pratt & Whitney engine powers a large fleet of over 2000 engines worldwide. The FAA issued three urgent Safety Recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the incident, focusing on a test and modification program for all engines of the same type.

Description

4 kts before V1 the right engine exploded. The F/O was flying. The Captain elected to continue the take-off and, after completing the emergency actions, the fire was still uncontained. There was no possibility to dump fuel, of course, so the Captain took the controls and landed the aircraft 42 tons over the max landing weight. They took off from runway 16R but the Captain decided to land on 34L because the fire was in the right engine and the wind from the west would have kept it away from the cabin. The final speed was 179Kts, flaps 19. After the aircraft stopped, of course, most of the tires deflated. The 287 pax were evacuated with no injuries and the airplane suffered no damages, apart from the right engine. The enquiry established that the blast and fire occurred because of a leaking high-pressure fuel hose. Apparently, over 700 kgs of fuel had leaked into the nacelle during taxi. It ignited during take-off. Efforts have been made to determine the causes for the rupture of a flexible pipe leading to substantial fuel leak. The Pratt & Whitney – PW 4062 engine powers a large aircraft fleet world wide and more than 2000 such engines are presently in operation. On September 7th, 2004 the ANSV was able to determine the causes for the rupture originating the event and therefore three specific urgent Safety Recommendations were issued to the address of the Federal Aviation Administration – FAA of the USA. The scope of the recommendations dealt with suggesting the adoption of a specific test and modification program for all engines of the same type. In detail the suggestion specified certain flexible pipes installation criteria and procedures and the modification of inspection procedures during periodic maintenance. Consequently, the Manufacturer was directed to modify and update the relevant maintenance procedures and the manuals where they are described. The preventative maintenance suggested by the ANSV has been fully endorsed by the FAA which issued a first notice on February 18th, 2005 followed by a specific Service Bulletin (PW4ENG 72-773) on April 7th, 2005.

Source of Information

http://www.ansv.it/en/Detail.asp?ID=460, https://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/137835-blue-panorama-engine-fire.htmlhttp://www.ansv.it/en/Detail.asp?ID=460, https://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/137835-blue-panorama-engine-fire.html

Primary Cause

A leaking high-pressure fuel hose during taxi caused a rupture, leading to substantial fuel leakage and subsequent fire, ultimately resulting in the explosion of the right engine.A leaking high-pressure fuel hose during taxi caused a rupture, leading to substantial fuel leakage and subsequent fire, ultimately resulting in the explosion of the right engine.

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