The company has spotted “a potential problem” on an engine of the aircraft sold by Airbus. The regulator does not consider it necessary to extend the checks at this stage.
The setbacks continue for Airbus A350 aircraft with “a potential problem” on a second type of engine announced by Malaysia Airlines, but the European regulator does not consider it necessary to extend inspections “at this stage”.
A fault detected Monday in a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine powering a Cathay Pacific A350-1000 prompted the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to order an emergency inspection of the model of Airbus’ flagship long-haul aircraft on Thursday. But Malaysia Airlines announced Friday that it had found a “potential problem” on another model, an A350-900, equipped with a Trent XWB-84 engine, in its fleet.
“Malaysia Airlines Berhad confirms that its fleet of A350-900, Trent XWB-84, recently underwent a preventive inspection, during which a potential issue with the high pressure fuel pipes on one aircraft was identified.”the company said in a statement. “This issue was quickly resolved and the aircraft was fully cleared to return to service under strict maintenance protocols.”the company added. A spokesman told AFP that all seven A350-900s in its fleet had been inspected. A Rolls-Royce spokesman said Malaysia Airlines replaced a hose connector on an XWB-84 engine.
Different design
Asked by AFP, the European regulator considered that there was no justification “at this stage” to extend inspections to the A350-900, which represents the vast majority of A350s in service: 530 according to Airbus figures published on Friday. The Trent XWB-84 engines, installed on the A350-900, “are similar but differ in design and service history. Based on the information available, an extension of the measures to these engines is not justified at this stage”an EASA spokeswoman told AFP.
Asked by AFP what to do next after the Malaysia Airlines inspection, Airbus noted that “only EASA” could “impose inspections” recalling that the Agency’s directive was limited “clearly the Trent XWB-97 engine”. Rolls-Royce a dit “carry out one-off precautionary inspections” prescribed by the European regulator on high pressure fuel pipes of Trent XWB-97 engines.
Several airlines around the world have ordered inspections of A350 planes after Cathay Pacific grounded 48 of its planes for checks on Monday. The Hong Kong-based airline said it was “failure” on a Trent XWB-97 engine during a flight to Zurich (Switzerland). EASA stressed on Thursday that this Cathay Pacific flight was a “engine fire in flight, shortly after takeoff”linked a priori to “high pressure fuel lines” defective.
The EU on Thursday requested an emergency inspection of a small part – the only A350-1000 model – of the A350 fleet, which is powered by XWB-97 engines. A total of 87 A350-1000 aircraft are currently in service worldwide.
Inspection of “precaution”
Inspections to check for damage to fuel lines inside engines, “should take place within the next 3 to 30 days, depending on the individual engine history”detailed the European policeman on Thursday evening. “This action is a precautionary measure”stressed its executive director Florian Guillermet. “Our engineering teams are working hard to ensure that disruptions are kept to a minimum.”a spokesman for Virgin Atlantic, the British airline concerned which operates 12 A350-1000s, told AFP.
The A350, the first of which was delivered to Qatar Airways at the end of 2014, has been the European aircraft manufacturer’s largest long-haul aircraft since the end of production of the giant A380 in 2021, capable of carrying up to nearly 500 passengers in the 1000 version. A competitor to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the A350 has been ordered for 1,330 units, of which 617 have been delivered according to a count taken at the end of August.
Airbus’ troubles come as U.S. rival Boeing struggles to overcome concerns over safety and quality control issues in recent years.
