NTSB Investigating SWISS A220 Inflight GTF Engine Failure

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ATW Online; Wednesday 21 August 2019
Investigation begins into SWISS Airbus A220 engine incident

A serious incident investigation has begun, after a Pratt & Whitney-powered Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) Airbus A220 experienced an inflight engine failure and a subsequent inspection revealed that the low-pressure compressor (LPC) stage 1 rotor was missing.

The SWISS A220 was performing a scheduled passenger flight from Geneva to London Heathrow at about 1305 local time on July 25 when the crew experienced problems.

“Swiss International flight LX348, an A220-300, registration HB-JCM, experienced an engine failure of the left Pratt &Whitney PW1524G while climbing through flight level 320. The flight crew shut down the engine and diverted to Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG), Paris, France. Postflight examination of the engine revealed that the low-pressure compressor stage 1 rotor was missing,” French air-accident investigation bureau BEA said in a statement.

The aircraft sustained minor damage. None of the passengers and crew onboard were injured.

BEA said the “serious incident” investigation has been delegated to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

By: Victoria Moores

NS Comment: LPC Stage 1 Rotor missing on a flight from Geneva to London Heathrow. Since no sighting overland reported, has it gone into the English Channel or North Sea?

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ATW Online; Monday 23 September 2019
NTSB investigates second SWISS PW1500G failure

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is looking into the second PW1500G engine failure involving a low-pressure compressor stage 1 rotor in two months - both involving Swiss International Air Lines A220-300s operating the same route.

The second incident took place Sept. 16, an NTSB update said. The aircraft, HB-JCA delivered in May 2017, was climbing out of Geneva International Airport en route to London Heathrow when the left-side PW1524G engine failed. The failure occurred “just prior to reaching cruise altitude FL350,” NTSB said. “The flight crew initiated quick reference handbook procedures, declared an emergency, and returned to Geneva Airport” and “made an uneventful landing.”

Investigators found "a hole in the low-pressure compressor case and a separated low pressure compressor stage 1 rotor,” NTSB said.

The incident comes as NTSB continues to probe a July 25 failure under similar circumstances. In that incident, the Swiss A220-300 registered HB-JCM and delivered in June 2018 had its left PW1524G fail while climbing out of. Geneva through FL320. The crew diverted to Paris Charles de Gaulle International and landed without incident. “Postflight examination of the engine revealed that the low-pressure compressor stage 1 rotor was missing,” NTSB said.

France’s air accident investigation agency BEA and the Swiss Transportation Safety Board designated the US agency to lead the investigations.

By: Sean Broderick

NS Comment: We could do with some field info from A220 LAEs.

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FAA issues AD 2019-19-11.
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1525G, PW1521G-3, PW1524G-3, PW1525G-3, PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A model turbofan engines.
This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) inlet guide vane (IGV) and the LPC rotor 1 (R1) and, depending on the results of the inspections, possible replacement of the LPC.
This AD was prompted by two recent in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) that occurred as the result of failures of the LPC R1. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective September 26, 2019.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by November 12, 2019.

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Flightglobal.com, 15-Oct-2019:
Third Swiss A220 failure spurs urgent engine checks

Swiss has cancelled dozens of Airbus A220 services in order to conduct technical inspections on the fleet, following a third incident involving an engine failure in as many months.

All three incidents have involved A220-300s operating services between Geneva and London Heathrow.

While the previous events – in July and September – had involved aircraft departing Geneva, the latest on 15 October occurred to a return service from London, which had to divert to Paris Charles de Gaulle where it landed about 1h after take-off.

French investigation authority BEA describes the incident as "serious".

Read more at: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...checks-461504/

By David Kaminski-Morrow