Flexible plastic tool found in A380 engine after two months

[RooFlyer]

Tool found in engine of Qantas A380 two months after the item was reported missing

The bit of plastic seems to have sat there quite happily behind the fan blades for over 50 cycles without causing any issues.

An investigation has been launched into the discovery of a small tool behind the fan blades of a Qantas A380 at Los Angeles Airport, more than two months after the item was reported missing.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating what it called a “foreign object debris” event, involving an A380 with the registration VH-OQI.

According to the ATSB’s investigation brief, a tool was found behind the fan blades of the number one engine during a maintenance inspection on February 2, 2024.

“The tool was confirmed to be a compressor turning tool which had been identified as missing since December 6, 2023,” the ATSB said.

Flight records show VH-OQI conducted almost daily flights in the period from December 6 to February 2, apparently without incident.

A statement from Qantas said they were taking the matter “extremely seriously”.

 

[jrfsp]

that could have really put a spanner in the works

 

[DejaBrew]

that could have really put a spanner in the works

 

[bPeteb]

Hahahahahaha. I was scanning and thought this said flexible plastic stool and I thought how the hell did it even get in there!!

 

[Hvr]

that could have really put a spanner in the works

It would've been a real wrench if something went wrong.

 

[Captain Halliday]

It would've been a real wrench if something went wrong.

Especially if the shift hit the fan.

 

[jb747]

Especially if the shift hit the fan.

From what I can gather, it was already behind the fan. Presumably at the bottom, which would mean it was hung up on some fan stator blades. Now that would also be the easiest place to see it in a preflight if it was an inner engine, but if it was an outer engine, then they're mounted too high to see the base of the fan up close. The positive is that the loss of a couple of fan stator blades has very little effect, and doesn't cause the cascade of destruction you'll get from turbine blades. (I know this from having tested it on a CF6.) I guess we'll have to wait for the ATSB to tell us exactly where it was.

 

[jpp42]

Here's a link to the ATSB summary page where you can also download the full report:

Foreign object debris event involving Airbus A380, VH-OQI, at Los Angeles International Airport, United States, on 1 January 2024 | ATSB

www.atsb.gov.au