Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 7 November 2007
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-230
Owner/operator: Nationwide Airlines
Registration Number: ZS-OEZ
Location: Cape Town International Airport (CPT) – ÿ South Africa
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Minor, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 112
Component Affected: Right-hand engineRight-hand engine
Investigating Agency: CAA S.A.CAA S.A.
Category: Serious incident
A Boeing 737-230, Nationwide flight 723, experienced a significant loss of engine power during takeoff from Runway 01 at Cape Town International Airport. The right-hand engine separated, triggering a rapid and uncontrolled attitude change, leading to a sink and subsequent rightward yaw. The crew immediately initiated recovery maneuvers and established a safe altitude. An emergency was declared, and the aircraft ascended to 3000 feet above mean sea level, vectored along the circuit.A Boeing 737-230, Nationwide flight 723, experienced a significant loss of engine power during takeoff from Runway 01 at Cape Town International Airport. The right-hand engine separated, triggering a rapid and uncontrolled attitude change, leading to a sink and subsequent rightward yaw. The crew immediately initiated recovery maneuvers and established a safe altitude. An emergency was declared, and the aircraft ascended to 3000 feet above mean sea level, vectored along the circuit.

Description

A Boeing 737-230, operating as Nationwide flight 723, departed from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) on schedule at 15:50. During a takeoff from runway 01, the right-hand engine separated from the wing. During rotation the crew noticed a sudden spool down indication on all right-hand engine gauges, followed by drastic attitude changes. The aircraft was banking towards the left and right side, then started to sink and thereafter yawed to the right. The right-hand engine thrust lever retarded uncommanded and the reverse thrust warning light also illuminated and remained on. The crew managed to recover the aircraft from the uncommanded roll to both left and right and was able to establish a normal flight attitude. An emergency was then declared and the aircraft continued to climb and remained at an altitude of 3000 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), as it was vectored along the circuit by the ATC. The flight deck crew carried out one orbit with the aircraft prior to them receiving clearance to land on runway 01. A safe landing on runway 01 followed. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The right-hand engine separated from the aircraft due to the failure of the aft cone bolt as a result of a pre-existing fatigue crack which was most likely caused by incorrect installation of the cone bolt.”

Primary Cause

Fatigue crack in the aft cone bolt, resulting in failure and subsequent engine separation.Fatigue crack in the aft cone bolt, resulting in failure and subsequent engine separation.

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