Cathay Airbus fault could have caused major damage

Recently, a serious incident occurred involving a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 aircraft, which raised significant safety concerns. The aircraft experienced an engine fire due to a fuel leak, which investigators believe could have led to extensive damage. Following this alarming event, Hong Kong's flagship airline made the decision to ground several of its planes after one of its flights had to return shortly after takeoff due to an engine component failure. The engine in question, the Trent XWB-97, is manufactured by the British engineering company Rolls-Royce. According to a preliminary report from Hong Kong's Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA), the fire was caused by a broken fuel hose, one of several that had sustained damage. Both Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific have committed to supporting the ongoing investigation to determine the root cause of the incident. The fire occurred shortly after the plane took off from Hong Kong, bound for Zurich. The pilots received a fire warning in the cockpit, which prompted them to shut down the engine and deploy fire extinguishers. Fortunately, the aircraft, carrying 348 passengers and crew members, was able to land safely back in Hong Kong. However, this incident raised serious concerns regarding the safety of the engines used in Cathay Pacific's A350 fleet, especially after inspections revealed issues with an additional 15 aircraft. The preliminary report indicated that the protective covering of a fuel hose had ruptured, resulting in a noticeable hole in the hose. There were also signs of fire within parts of the engine, including soot and burn marks. Further inspections uncovered that five additional fuel hoses in the same engine were also defective. If these issues had not been detected and addressed promptly, they could have escalated into a more severe engine fire, potentially causing significant damage to the aircraft. In response to the findings, the AAIA recommended that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) require Rolls-Royce to establish new inspection protocols for the affected engines. EASA acted swiftly after the incident, mandating operators using the same type of engine to conduct inspections of their fuel pipes and remove any that were deemed potentially compromised. Subsequently, EASA replaced these emergency measures with a broader inspection regime covering various variants of the Trent XWB engine. The agency noted that a specific cleaning process used during engine refurbishment could lead to the degradation of the fuel hoses. In a statement, Cathay Pacific announced that following the incident, it had proactively initiated a fleet-wide inspection of its Airbus A350 aircraft, ensuring that they were cleared for operation. The airline emphasized its full compliance with EASA's directives and its commitment to working closely with both the airframe and engine manufacturers, as well as regulatory authorities. Cathay Pacific took delivery of its first Airbus A350 in 2016, and this aircraft has quickly become a key component of airlines' long-haul fleets worldwide. Its main advantages include high efficiency and low operating costs, with the engine being a crucial factor in this efficiency. The Trent XWB was specifically developed by Rolls-Royce for the A350. Initially, there were concerns that the incident could indicate a serious problem affecting the global A350 fleet, which would have posed a significant setback for the British manufacturer. However, it soon became clear that the issue was limited to the fuel lines outside the engine rather than the engine's internal components. This distinction meant that the problem could be resolved relatively quickly without necessitating an expensive redesign. Initially, it was believed that the issue was confined to the XWB-97, a high-power variant of the engine used in a limited number of long-range aircraft. However, EASA has since mandated checks on other engine versions as well. In response to the investigators' report, Rolls-Royce stated that they are continuing to collaborate closely with regulators to support the ongoing investigation into Cathay Pacific flight CX383. The company emphasized that the engine and aircraft systems promptly detected and addressed the issue, as expected in such situations, allowing the crew to be alerted and deploy the fire extinguisher effectively. This year, Rolls-Royce announced plans to invest significantly in improving its range of engines, including the Trent XWB-97. In 2023, Tim Clark, the president of Emirates Airlines, expressed concerns regarding the durability of the engine and the maintenance costs associated with Rolls-Royce's services.