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An emergency at Singapore's Changi Airport yesterday involving Air China flight CA403 was unusual. The cabin was filled with smoke, but the engine was blazing with a clattering sound, and the scene was terrifying. Thankfully, the emergency evacuation and timely response of the fire engine ensured that only 9 people were slightly injured and there were no more serious consequences. However, this incident is not accidental and needs to be explored in depth.
The aircraft involved is an Airbus A320neo with two PW1100G engines, known as the A320-271N. This engine is produced specifically for the A320neo by Pratt & Whitney USA, while the A320neo can also choose CFM's LEAP-1A engine, labeled A320-251N. Since its first flight in 2014, about 2,000 A320neos have been produced, of which about 60% are equipped with the -251N model and 40% are equipped with the -271N model.
The A320 series and the Boeing 737 series have been the workhorses of the civil aviation industry. While sales of the A320neo were once positive, for example, China's three major airlines purchased 292 A320neos together in 2022, the A320neo with PW1100G engines experienced frequent problems, including dozens of blade breaks. Of particular concern is the fact that India has had two PW1100G-related accidents in one day, which has attracted widespread attention. However, because the aircraft can still fly in a single-engine state, and the rapid shutdown of the faulty engine can prevent smoke from entering the cabin, accidents are usually small in scale and rarely reported in the domestic media.
Faced with the problem of PW1100G engines, manufacturers and the FAA have issued several directives. On August 4, 2023, the FAA issued a new directive requiring operators to perform ultrasonic flaw detection on the engine's first and second stage turbine discs as soon as possible and replace the faulty parts by September 15.
Currently, Chinese mainland has 387 A320neo aircraft, 163 of which are equipped with PW1100G engines. Major customers include Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, China Airlines, Qingdao Airlines, as well as China Southern Airlines and Hunan Airlines. Air China is the largest of these operators, with more than 30 A320neos.
Historically, operators in China generally strictly follow the airworthiness directive. Therefore, whether the accident is entirely related to PW1100G needs to wait for the official report. However, it is worth noting that in a recent incident, there was a case of abnormal operation of the hydraulic pump at cruising altitude, which seems to be somewhat related to engine failure. It is worth mentioning that the aircraft in that incident also carried PW1100G engines and were very close to the delivery time of this accident, so a potential connection between them cannot be ruled out.
As a world-renowned aircraft engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney established IAE in cooperation with Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom, Aero Engine Corporation of Japan and MTU of Germany to power the A320ceo. However, why PW1100G frequently problems remains a mystery. Some people think that this may be related to the new technology of "gear turbofan". For example, PW1500G engines that also use GTF technology power the A220 series, but have also been plagued by GTF technology.
It is not uncommon for problems with new technologies or products to arise, but the safety of the engine, as the core component of an aircraft, is of paramount importance. Fortunately, most of the problems so far have been early-production engines, and late-production engines do not seem to have been affected, such as the A320neo used by various American companies, and according to media reports, similar problems have not yet occurred. Therefore, the problem may be with the production batch, this is the current view.
There are some questions that plague fans about this accident, and we answer them one by one below. First of all, why evacuate from the left side of the fire? This may be because the engine fire is not so strong that it cannot even be called a flame. According to Singapore air traffic control recordings and pilot reports, only smoke appeared in the cabin, and there were no open flames. If there is only smoke and no open flame, then passengers can be evacuated from either side. Of course, if there really was a fire, it is estimated that the passengers would have filmed it, but this did not happen.
The engines of modern airliners are usually equipped with fire extinguishing systems, which the pilot can control by releasing extinguishing agents. However, the engine is present
It operates through flames, so the core area may not trigger the fire alarm system, and it is difficult for pilots to detect open flames. In this case, it is also difficult for flight attendants to see the flames, so choosing to evacuate from the left side is not a mistake. As for whether the slide on the right is also open, this requires further investigation to determine.
Secondly, does anyone care why the oxygen mask does not fall automatically? In general, the oxygen mask will automatically drop when the cabin is depressurized, but if there is no depressurization, then it does not make much sense to release the oxygen mask. In addition, oxygen masks do not have a filtering function and provide only limited protection from smoke. The oxygen inside the mask is produced by a chemical reaction and cannot be stopped once activated. If the mask is activated after smoke appears, it may exacerbate the fire and make the situation worse.
Regarding whether the A320ceo and A321neo will be affected by this incident, the A320ceo's IAE engine has had blade failure, but after years of operational testing, it seems that it should no longer be affected. As for the A321neo, it is equipped with a PW1130G engine, this model also uses GTF technology, and the future situation is still uncertain. However, most people believe that the problems of GTF technology can be solved and do not worry too much about the prospects of the aviation industry.
The last question, whether China will ground the A320-271N, is difficult to predict. My personal view is that China should closely follow the airworthiness directives of manufacturers and the FAA to ensure the safety of aircraft. In short, there is no need to panic when encountering problems, it should be solved with a scientific attitude and believe in flight safety.
Summary:
The emergency landing of Air China flight CA403 raised concerns about aircraft safety and engine performance. Although there were only minor injuries in the incident, it caused widespread concern and concern. The problems of the PW1100G engine involved in the accident and the possibilities associated with the new GTF require further study and resolution.
As an important aviation market, China should pay close attention to and follow the airworthiness directive to ensure the safety of aircraft. At the same time, the aviation industry should constantly strive to improve technology and manufacturing processes to ensure the safety and reliability of flight. Ultimately, it is only through sustained effort and cooperation that passenger safety and confidence can be ensured.
This incident reminds us that flying is a complex technical activity that requires strict safety measures and regulation. Only with the joint efforts of all parties can we continue to enjoy safe air travel.
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