That's Not Supposed to Happen

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 10/19/2015 at 11:59 • Filed to: Planelopnik

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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , an Airbus A319-100, was on the takeoff roll from Santiago Airport in Chile last Wednesday when part of the number 1 engine cowling came loose and tore away. The aircraft successfully took off and returned to the land without incident.

Ash78, voting early and often > Jcarr 10/19/2015 at 12:11

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Good thing the maintenance crew had a ziploc bag full of drywall screws handy or they never would have gotten it fixed.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr 10/19/2015 at 12:15

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Apparently, this is a rather common occurrence.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/09/pla…

http://www.capeaeroclub.co.za/flight_safety_…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2…

And there are probably many more. Interestingly, these are all Airbus a/c.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn 10/19/2015 at 12:20

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All CFM56-5s. Interesting. Design flaw with this particular cowling style?

ttyymmnn > Jcarr 10/19/2015 at 12:23

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Maybe so. I’m sure there’s an NTSB report or something somewhere that could be researched. It would be interesting to see what the recommendations were.

Cé hé sin > Jcarr 10/19/2015 at 12:47

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Happened before with BA

Ash78, voting early and often > ttyymmnn 10/19/2015 at 12:54

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I prefer the Twilight Zone explanation, personally.

Chris Clarke > ttyymmnn 10/19/2015 at 13:14

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Incomplete walk around most likely. Those latches are hard to see unless you get down and actually check them. The A320 has had such a high rate of fan cowl departures compared to other aircraft that EASA is forcing Airbus to put flight deck indicators on the new A320neo for whether or not the cowls are latched for the crew to see in the cockpit.

Other aircraft, like the 737, have cowl latches designed to be extra long and stick out when not latched properly to provide a much better visual indicator.

ttyymmnn > Chris Clarke 10/19/2015 at 13:15

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Great info. Thanks.