Vickers VC-10 Series 1151 G-ASGK operated by BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation): Substantially damaged 27 November 1969 over Reading, Berkshire, shortly after take off from London Heathrow Airport. During the en route climb following a a normal departure from London Heathrow Airport for a flight to New York. A failure occurred in the No.3 engine which caused the complete detachment of the thrust reverser, exhaust cone assembly and cowling. Fragment from No.3 caused damage to No.4 which then caught fire. Both engine were shut down and the fire went out. The aircraft returned to Heathrow and made a successful overweight landing. None of the 58 passengers and 11 crew were injured in the incident. No injures were caused to people on the ground although the parts which fell away from the aircraft in flight caused damage to property in the Reading area. There was damage to the VC-10’s engines made a small hole in the rear fuselage, penetrating the pressure hull. The VC10 had flown 6,527hr in service and number three engine was fitted on July 1. The two engines are being removed and will go to the BOAC overhaul centre at Treforest for inspection. British airworthiness requirements stipulate that any single failed compressor or turbine blade must be contained within the engine casing. Multiple blade failures or turbine-disc disintegrations are not required to be contained. The probability of such failures is considered remote and the weight penalty of catering for them unacceptable PROBABLE CAUSE: The Air Accident Investigation Branch determines that the probable cause was the sequence of failure of No.3 engine started with the shedding of the blades from the 2nd stage of low pressure turbine wheel during the take off phase.