ATSB flags defects on A380 engines as Qantas sets new checks on Airbus fleet
The Trent 900 engine that powers the Airbus A380 superjumbos could be afflicted with manufacturing defects that could lead to engine failure and a potential mid-air disaster.
This according to the Thursday statement issued by the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) following its investigation on the Qantas engine blowout over Indonesia on November 4, which resulted to the grounding of international airlines' A380 fleets.
The ATSB has earlier warned that the Rolls Royce-manufactured engine could be a safety hazard and the new pronouncement effectively highlighted the imminent accident set to be caused by the identified engine troubles, if left unchecked.
The ATSB statement has identified a "potential manufacturing defect with an oil tube connection to the high-pressure (HP)/intermediate-pressure (IP) bearing structure," which the safety body said could spur "fatigue cracking, oil leakage and oil leakage and potential engine failure from an oil fire within the HP/IP bearing buffer space."
The new advisory was issued prior to the scheduled release of ATSB's preliminary findings into the engine blowout on Friday but the agency stressed that airlines companies and safety regulators are advised to continue their engine inspection routines and remove any Trent 900s that show the stated defects.
In reaction to the new ATSB statement, Qantas Airways announced on Thursday that a recheck on its entire A380 fleet would be conducted but the company assured that no imminent risk has been identified on any of its flights.
The new round of inspections would commence on Thursday afternoon, according to Qantas spokeswoman Olivia Wirth, which should last for four hours every plane as "the inspection involves a very detailed examination with a baroscope."
Wirth said that the engine checks involve the use of medical equipment to capture 3D imaging of the Trent 900, which then will be sent to the Rolls Royce laboratory for analysis and determination on the true state of the engine.
Despite the new set of engine check ups, Qantas gave assurance that its normal operations would not be affected and the national carrier's international schedules would be maintained.