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    SMS Bulletin No.006-2016

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    Ahmed Shah
    This SMS bulletin discusses preventing fan cowl losses from aircraft. It summarizes two past incidents where fan cowls detached during flight, endangering the aircraft and passengers. Improperly latched fan cowls are a primary cause. The bulletin recommends strict adherence to maintenance procedures for latching cowls and increased verification that cowls are securely fastened before flight. Line maintenance staff must be trained on the importance of closing all components correctly.

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    SMS Bulletin No.006-2016

    Uploaded by

    Ahmed Shah
    24 views6 pages
    This SMS bulletin discusses preventing fan cowl losses from aircraft. It summarizes two past incidents where fan cowls detached during flight, endangering the aircraft and passengers. Improperly latched fan cowls are a primary cause. The bulletin recommends strict adherence to maintenance procedures for latching cowls and increased verification that cowls are securely fastened before flight. Line maintenance staff must be trained on the importance of closing all components correctly.

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    This SMS bulletin discusses preventing fan cowl losses from aircraft. It summarizes two past incidents where fan cowls detached during flight, endangering the aircraft and passengers. Improperly latched fan cowls are a primary cause. The bulletin recommends strict adherence to maintenance procedures for latching cowls and increased verification that cowls are securely fastened before flight. Line maintenance staff must be trained on the importance of closing all components correctly.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    24 views6 pages

    SMS Bulletin No.006-2016

    Uploaded by

    Ahmed Shah
    This SMS bulletin discusses preventing fan cowl losses from aircraft. It summarizes two past incidents where fan cowls detached during flight, endangering the aircraft and passengers. Improperly latched fan cowls are a primary cause. The bulletin recommends strict adherence to maintenance procedures for latching cowls and increased verification that cowls are securely fastened before flight. Line maintenance staff must be trained on the importance of closing all components correctly.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 6

    SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

    SMS Bulletin No.006/2016

    DATED: 3rd October, 2016


    Ref: SEAMS/SMS/SCP/005A/SIB/006/2016
    TO: Line Maintenance Department (All stations)
    FROM: SMS Department

    Dear All,

    FAN COWL LOSS PREVENTION

    There have been 32 incidents where parts have detached from aircraft and 80% of them have
    occurred during take-off phase. This is termed as Parts Departing from Aircraft (PDA) and has always
    represented significant safety concern in aviation industry involving Line Maintenance and
    Maintenance SMS.

    On A320 family, fan cowl is one of the largest PDA reported because each cowl which weighs about
    40 Kg, hence possessing great amount of potential energy. Fan cowl detaching at high speeds is a
    hazardous condition which generally leads to twisted pylon, cantilevers and/or damages to slats,
    wing leading edges, horizontal stabilizers and potentially any part of the aircraft located aft of the
    engines. PDA can damage not only the aircraft from which it has detached but may also represent a
    potential risk to other following aircraft or people on ground.

    As per Airbus SIL 00-097 all occurrences which involve parts detached or falling from aircraft must be
    reported, no matter the shape, size, material or weight.

    INCIDENTS OCCURRED

    Sep 19th, 2016: An Aruba Airlines Airbus A320-200 fitted with IAE V2527, departed Miami, FL
    runway 08R and was climbing out when the crew stopped the climb at FL220 after the outboard fan
    cowl separated from the right hand engine. As a precaution they decided to return to Miami.

    The aircraft landed safely on Miami's runway 09 about 40 minutes after departure. There were no
    injuries, the aircraft sustained damage to the engine, engine pylon, right main landing gear, right
    main landing gear door and right fuselage.

    Page 1
    SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
    th
    May 24 , 2013: A British Airways Airbus A319-100, performing flight BA-762 from London
    Heathrow, EN (UK) to Oslo (Norway), during climb a loud bang from the left hand engine was heard
    and the left hand engine's (V2522) cowling doors went missing. While positioning for a return to
    Heathrow another loud bang was heard, this time from the right hand engine, and the right hand
    engine's cowling doors went missing, and the right hand engine was trailing smoke.

    The aircraft landed safely on Heathrow's runway 27R about 26 minutes after departure, stopped on
    the runway and was evacuated via slides while emergency services doused the right hand engine
    and extinguished the engine fire. No injuries occurred.

    PRIMARY FACTOR - INCORRECT LATCHING OF FAN COWLS

    Among other factors, in-flight loss of the fan cowl can be due to aircraft departing with improper
    latching of cowls. This results in maintenance consequences such as damage to aircraft structure and
    operational consequences such as in-flight turn back and subsequent long grounding periods for
    repair which can last up to several weeks. There are many factors that contribute to cowls
    incorrectly latched and subsequent loss such as first flight of the day, poor weather conditions, and
    time constraints due to late aircraft change or changes to the routine of the maintenance team
    during tasks involving opening of the fan cowl.

    RISK MITIGATION

    Specific focus on AMM maintenance instructions and SOPs are key safety barriers to avoid such
    events. During the exterior walk around check, it shall be ensured by SEAMS personnel that they not
    only visually check the fan cowl but crouch and reach for bottom of engine area in order to be sure
    that latches are secure. The effectiveness of this check relies on the correct positioning of the
    technician to make sure that the handles are flush with cowls and engaged in their slots.

    Airbus insists the need for strict adherence to the Airbus AMM 71-13-00 (Refer Appendix A)
    instructions for proper latching and closing of the fan cowl doors. Shaheen Air A320 AMP Daily +
    Weekly Check S/N 1. C (2) (Refer Appendix B) also includes visual check of engines and pylons with
    cowling closed.

    Page 2
    SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
    SEAMS SMS – Line Maintenance Recommendations:

    Apropos to the adherence to procedures in AMM 71-13-00 (Appendix A), SEAMS Shift
    managers/AMEs shall reinforce the importance that maintenance personnel must follow;
    - Latches shall not be engaged on the hook when cowl is open
    - Latches must be secured as soon as fan cowl is closed

    1. Latched on open doors should always be left in a “not engaged” position which means that
    they will hang down when the doors are closed and not latched (Appendix A).

    2. The Fan cowl doors should always be entirely latched when they are being closed. If it is
    necessary to walk away from the engine prior to completing the latching, the doors should
    not be left unlatched or partially unlatched (Appendix A).

    3. SATC - Human factor course should include training topic related to importance for closing
    up of all the vital components, hatches, panels etc.

    4. SMS department reiterates the importance of verifying that the fan cowl doors are latched
    prior to flight by visually checking the position of the latches.

    5. SEAMS SAG members from KHI, ISB, LHE, SKT, PEW, MUX to aware their shift members and
    report any safety deficiency to immediate A/E, Station/Shift manager and SMS
    department.

    6. All SEAMS staff for enhancing safety culture shall report hazards, incidents and accident to
    SEAMS SMS Department via:
    a) Email ([email protected])
    b) SMS hazard reporting boxes (Form 002)
    c) Other means of communication

    References:
    1. Airbus AMM 71-13-00
    2. Airbus SIL 00-097
    3. The Airbus Safety Magazine (Issue 14 – JULY, 2012)
    4. AAIB special bulletin: S3/2013 – EW/C2013/05/02
    5. Shaheen Air A320 AMP (Doc # 221078-SAIAMP322) – Daily + Weekly

    Page 3
    SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
    Appendix A
    Airbus AMM 71-13-00
    CAUTION:
    DO NOT LEAVE THIS JOB AFTER JUST CLOSING THE FAN COWLS, CONTINUE ON TO SECURE THE
    LATCHES. OF YOU ARE CALLED AWAY PRIOR TO LATCHING, THEN EITHER RE-OPEN ONE COWL
    DOOR OR LATCH THE LATCHES BEFORE WALKING AWAY FROM THIS ENGINE.
    CAUTION:
    DO NOT ENGAGE THE LATCH HANDLE HOOKS WHEN THE FAN COWL DOOR ARE OPENED.

    Airbus Safety First Magazine (JULY 2012)

    Page 4
    SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
    Appendix B

    Page 5
    SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

    Page 6

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