Japanese safety investigators are treating serioulsy problems with a Jetstar Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on March 29 that saw pilots receive indications that both engines had failed.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said Wednesday that it had been nominated as an accredited representative to the Japan Transport Safety Board’s investigation of the incident.
“At approximately 15,000 feet during descent into Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan, the flight crew received an engine thrust warning on the number 2 engine, which subsequently started to surge,’’ the ATSB said in a statement.
“The crew then received an engine fail indication on the number 1 engine, without any shift in parameters indicating any engine power loss.
“That warning was followed by an engine fail warning on the number 2 engine. The number 2 engine auto relight activated and the engine continued to surge during the descent.”
Jetstar on Tuesday denied that the engines flamed out and said pilots received an alert indicating a temporary variation in engine speed as the plane approached Kansai.
It said no emergency was declared and a priority landing was not requested.
“During this time both engines continued to operate and our pilots followed procedures, landing the flight normally,’’ a spokeswoman said .
READ: Jetstar Asia showcases Australia’s red top end.
“Our engineers are assessing the aircraft in Japan, and we are working with the ATSB, CASA, GE and Boeing to investigate the cause of the fluctuations.”
Customers booked on the aircraft’s return flight were moved to alternative services.
An engine surge occurs when the airflow is disrupted as it passes through the turbine and can be the result of a number of factors. It can be transient and self-correcting or may need the pilots to intervene.
In severe cases, it can damage the engine.
There have been a series of engine failures and groundings involving 787s because of problems with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines but Jetstar’s aircraft have the rival GEnx powerplants.
Singapore Airlines announced this week that it was grounding two new 787-10 aircraft because of premature blade deterioration on some Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 TEN engines.
READ: More Rolls Royce engine problems for the 787.
