A bearing failure in the right International Aero Engines V2500 powerplant has been identified as the cause behind an engine power loss involving a Jetstar Airbus A320 registered VH-VFY on 22 September 2016.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said in its final report into the incident that the number 3 bearing in the right engine had failed, which led to the power loss.
But in its engineering examination, International Aero Engines (IAE), which manufactured the engine, was unable to determine the cause of the bearing failure due to secondary damage.
Despite airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the US Federal Aviation Administration on the failures of the number 3 bearing, this did not apply to the engine used by VH-VFY as the serial number was outside the specified range.
The incident occurred on a flight from Sydney to Cairns, near Narrabri airport, after a cabin crew notified the flight crew and the cabin manager of an unusual odour in the cabin at 16.30 local time. The flight crew later received an oil filter clog message on the aircraft's electronic centralised monitor system, signalling an increase in the engine oil filter pressure.
Smoke then began to enter the cabin through the overhead air conditioning vents, with the flight crew detecting vibration and unusual noise from the right engine. The A320 also yawed to the right.
A 'pan' call was made after opting to divert to Brisbane, which was identified as the most suitable airport for diversion. The aircraft landed without incident or injuries to the seven crew and 172 passengers.
The ATSB praised the crew for working effectively to manage the situation safely and efficiently.
Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that the 2014-built A320 is powered by IAE V2527-A5 SelectOne engines. It is owned by Vermillion Aviation, and managed by MC Aviation Partners.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
