QF94 Turned Back - Burst Water Pipe

[blackcat20]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

Components must be flimsy for a pipe to break. Then again to bring the plane's weight they probably used light components.
The cleaners were probably cleaning in a hurry and hence the components suffering fatigue. Foam mops can still cause damage over time.

Cleaning mops cause 700 litre water leak on Qantas A380 flight

I don't think the pipe broke; I read it as a loosened connection...

 

[sjd]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

At least no one is sweeping this under the rug.

 

[markis10]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

I don't think the pipe broke; I read it as a loosened connection...

Correct

A second officer went back into the cabin to determine how much water had leaked and confirmed
that the valve was switched off. He advised the captain that there was quite a large flow of water
coming from a loose water pipe coupling



http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5163828/ao-2014-116_final.pdf

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

I don't think the pipe broke; I read it as a loosened connection...

sounded to me like a few strands of the mop entwined around the joint and the cleaners had been pulling them free - loosening over time.

 

[markis10]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

sounded to me like a few strands of the mop entwined around the joint and the cleaners had been pulling them free - loosening over time.

Fleet wide inspection revealed planes with the mop remains, not on the actual incident plane. The replacement service was checked and also had a leaking loose coupling.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

Fleet wide inspection revealed planes with the mop remains, not on the actual incident plane. The replacement service was checked and also had a leaking loose coupling.

Exactly. If it was found fleet wide, I would imagine it might have affected the plane in question. With that amount of water the mop strands were likely washed away.

Anyone who has used or seen one of those mops being used will know the strands can wrap around items and get caught in the right circumstances. Trying to pull the mop away is the usual response of the operator.

 

[markis10]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

Exactly. If it was found fleet wide, I would imagine it might have affected the plane in question. With that amount of water the mop strands were likely washed away.

Anyone who has used or seen one of those mops being used will know the strands can wrap around items and get caught in the right circumstances. Trying to pull the mop away is the usual response of the operator.

I agree its a likely cause, even if no evidence existed on the actual place. Qantas does seem to have been the guinea pig in a number of flaws now with the A380 regardless of fault, thats interesting in itself in terms of what other operators might be missing.

 

[maninblack]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

Correct

A second officer went back into the cabin to determine how much water had leaked and confirmed
that the valve was switched off. He advised the captain that there was quite a large flow of water
coming from a loose water pipe coupling

View attachment 36190

http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5163828/ao-2014-116_final.pdf

So why didn't he get a spanner and fix it?

 

[jb747]

Re: QF94 (1 July) return

Over the course of many cleans under a galley bench the mop rubbed up against a coupling on a pipe in the same fashion, eventually causing it to come unscrewed and thus leak. ...

You don't even need a fire, just all the water rushing to one end of the plane causing a weight imbalance.

Nowhere near enough water on board for that to be an issue.