SWISS A330 failed engine had spat ‘large flame forward; probe on:’ AAIB prelim report on aborted takeoff

New Delhi: The SWISS Airbus A330 with 245 people on board had aborted takeoff on April 26, after reaching a speed of about 110 knots when its “engine one failed with a large bang and spitting a large flame forward which was visible from the cockpit.” The aircraft had “veered to the left and the crew decided to abort the take-off,” says the preliminary report on the serious incident released by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is proving the same. Four passengers were injured while being evacuated from the aircraft using emergency slides.

The AAIB prelim report says “initial assessment of the aircraft has been carried out. The aircraft and flight-related documents have been collected. The initial statement of the flight crew has been obtained. The data from the flight recorders have been downloaded for further analysis.”

The involved engine will be retrieved from the aircraft for further detailed examination to identify the root cause of its failure. “ATC records along with controller statements have been obtained and are being analysed. Maintenance and operational records pertaining to the aircraft were obtained from the operator and are being analysed. Records obtained from various stakeholders are currently being scrutinised,” it adds.

On April 26, the A330 was to operate as LX 147 from Delhi to Zurich with 232 passengers and 13 crew members when it had to abort takeoff at IGIA. “No abnormality was reported on the aircraft during the pre-flight inspection.”

On its Zurich-Delhi flight as LX 146, the aircraft flight was uneventful, and no abnormality was reported on the aircraft by the operating crew. There were a total of seven complaints raised after the flight, which were generic in nature and none of them was related to engine or aircraft systems or anything related to serviceability/controllability of the aircraft. All seven complaints were addressed and the aircraft was released for the next flight without any complaints pending,” the report says.