Cathay A333 at Hong Kong on Apr 13th 2010, engine [failure]

[ktcanuck]

Seems a little bizarre (ignore the engine failure bit) if this is indeed what happened - How many systems have to fail such that you can't independently "throttle" one engine?:

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, registration B-HLL performing flight CX-780 from Surabaya (Indonesia) to Hong Kong (China) with 309 passengers and 14 crew, was on approach to Hong Kong, when the crew reported a left hand engine (Trent 772) failure and declared emergency. During roll out on the northern runway 07L brakes overheated resulting in a small fire and 6 main gear tyres deflating. The occupants of the airplane evacuated after standstill. 7 people received injuries in the evacuation.

The airline reported, that 5 people were taken to a hospital.

The runway was closed for about 2.5 hours.

Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Authority said, that one engine had been shut down countering rumours in Hong Kong, that the airplane may have lost both engines on short final.

Cathay Pacific reported, that the airplane touched down on one engine (in response to media reports in Hong Kong, that the second engine had failed on short final 10 minutes after the first was shut down).

Aviation sources in Hong Kong say, that both engines got stuck at a setting of about 70% N1 delivering high power. The crew shut the left hand engine down to reduce excess thrust and performed an emergency landing with the other engine still operating at 70% N1. Touch down speed is reported at around 200 KIAS causing the brakes to overheat.

[mbav8r]

Not sure if they have fadec or a different sytem but if the computer can"t detect the position of the lever, it goes to the last known position and corresponding power. If the power is high, like 70% the only option would be to shut it down. Really bad day if both fail.
On the other hand, I had a FCU on a pt6 freeze in place at cruise power. On the descent, once in warmer air the FCU started working normally and I didn't have to shut down the engine.
So all I can do is speculate, but my opinion, for whatever it's worth, I think dual fadec fault.

[ETOPS]

Assuming its all true:
Why not shut down the second engine on short final and touchdown at Vref - or at least somewhat lower then 200KIAS?
Its not like they weren't committed to the landing anyway...or were they?

Anyway, good on em for getting it down and everyone out alive.

[BTD]

Assuming its all true:
Why not shut down the second engine on short final and touchdown at Vref - or at least somewhat lower then 200KIAS?
Its not like they weren't committed to the landing anyway...or were they?

Anyway, good on em for getting it down and everyone out alive.

Its not a 172. Lots of systems would be lost if they shut down the remaining engine. The airbus guys could fill us in. But anti-skid would be gone (if not already), hydraulic pressure limited etc etc etc. Could have made for a bad day.

Plus if you mess it up, now you're pooched.

[robbreid]

When I first heard this, I had just assumed it was a B747 - and I thought Hmmm - lost an engine.

I realized this morning it's an Airbus A330 - and the rumor mill is saying the 2nd engine was also malfunctioning - awaiting more details but this appears to be a major incident.

One 'report' stated 2nd engine operating at 70 percent, another said it had been shut down also?, landing was reported at 230kts with small gear fire stopping the aircraft.

This occurred during the last 10 minutes of a 4 hour flight.

Absolutely excellent airmanship, I think we're going to hear a lot more from this??

Aviation Herald

News story and photos

[Jack Klumpus]

Assuming its all true:
Why not shut down the second engine on short final and touchdown at Vref - or at least somewhat lower then 200KIAS?
Its not like they weren't committed to the landing anyway...or were they?

Anyway, good on em for getting it down and everyone out alive.

At this level of the game, you do as per the QRH.

[flyinhigh]

Assuming its all true:
Why not shut down the second engine on short final and touchdown at Vref - or at least somewhat lower then 200KIAS?
Its not like they weren't committed to the landing anyway...or were they?

Anyway, good on em for getting it down and everyone out alive.

Hey, can't speak for the 330, however like the RJ, I am sure the 330 is WAY over powered (Below 10000 feet that is) Meaning if the engines where doing what was reported. 70% N1, that is a REALLY high power setting for final approach, even when you do get full configured, with the decent and that power setting you will be coming in super fast, way to fast for a safe landing.

These guys did it right, In airlines always shut down early, configure early and go from there.

[sanjet]

Assuming its all true:
Why not shut down the second engine on short final and touchdown at Vref - or at least somewhat lower then 200KIAS?
Its not like they weren't committed to the landing anyway...or were they?

Anyway, good on em for getting it down and everyone out alive.

At this level of the game, you do as per the QRH.

Is there even a QRH item for a uncontrollable two engine scenario. Im sure there's a dual engine failure but this is slightly different. Regardless, glad to see everyone made it out ok. Will be an intersting read after the investigation. Anyone still sure about pilotless aircraft in the future?

[c170b53]

Well said QRH. or depending on the aircraft following the electronic checklists. New aircraft; systems are way beyond crew comprehension due to the complexity. Doing something outside of the book would be an act of total desperation after the routine and all else has failed.

[ktcanuck]

Update:

Cathay Pacific has admitted that both engines on the Airbus A330-300 which carried out a high-speed landing at Hong Kong yesterday had experienced problems.

Flight-data analysis shows the right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 700 powerplant had been at idle thrust during the entire approach while thrust on the left-hand engine had "frozen" at 70% of maximum.

This higher thrust setting on the left-hand engine resulted in a landing at 230kt, with an incorrect flap configuration.

The high-speed landing led six of the aircraft’s tyres to deflate and, after receiving indications of flames from the heated landing-gear, the crew ordered an evacuation of the aircraft via the slides.

Cathay had previous stated that one engine had been shut down during the approach, but that the other was "functioning" – with no indication of any problems.

The airline clarifies today that "at no time" were both engines shut down in flight.

Maintenance support manager Dennis Hui says the aircraft would normally have touched down at 135kt.

Flight CX780 from Surabaya, Indonesia, landed in the correct runway position, he says: "But due to its high speed, it had to brake hard and use reverse thrust from the operating engine."

Cathay Pacific says it is co-operating with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, Rolls-Royce and Airbus to establish the reasons for the powerplant problems.

[Willis Nigh]

Nice job Cameron's brother.