What happened
On September 9, 2012, a Bombardier DHC-8-315Q, registration A6-ADB, operated by Abu Dhabi Aviation, was performing a scheduled passenger flight from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Das Island. Shortly after departing at 0645L, a passenger seated near the right-hand side of the cabin noticed fumes and heat emanating from the #2 engine nacelle area. The passenger observed the exterior paint on the engine panel changing color from white to brown and eventually black, with visible blistering.
The passenger alerted the flight attendant, who then notified the flight crew. Upon reaching approximately 2,300 feet, the first officer confirmed the presence of a hot spot and fumes. The crew declared a PAN PAN emergency and requested an immediate return to Abu Dhabi. Despite the visible external damage, the cockpit instruments showed normal engine indications, and no internal cockpit warnings had been triggered. The aircraft landed safely at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Following the landing, the #2 engine was shut down, and the aircraft taxied to its stand using only the #1 engine after fire services confirmed no active fire remained.
The investigation
The GCAA AAIS investigation focused on the source of the heat and fumes within the engine nacelle. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that minor maintenance had been performed the previous day. The investigation also reviewed the passenger's account of seeing fluid—which they initially thought was condensation—exiting the forward part of the engine during start-up. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the fact that during the post-flight debriefing, the crew learned that similar paint discoloration was also present on the #1 engine nacelle, though this was not immediately apparent to the crew during the flight.
Findings
- A passenger identified a hot spot and fumes originating from the #2 engine nacelle access panel during the initial climb.
- The heat was intense enough to cause the engine nacelle paint to blister and expose bare metal.
- There were no cockpit warnings or engine parameter deviations recorded by the flight crew prior to the passenger's alert.
- The aircraft experienced no injuries among the 46 passengers or the crew.