What happened
On August 19, 2009, a Boeing 737-236, registration HC-CFD, experienced a mechanical failure during landing at Coca - Aeropuerto Francisco de Orellana Airport (OCC) in Coca, Ecuador. Following touchdown on runway 15, the pilot deployed the thrust reversers. During this process, the pilot reported feeling a vibration and observing a right yaw of the aircraft.
The crew responded by stowing the thrust reversers, which allowed the aircraft to return to the runway centerline. The aircraft then taxied to the gate without any reported cockpit alerts or engine indications. There were no injuries resulting from the event.
An inspection of the aircraft confirmed that the No. 1 (left) engine's thrust reverser had separated from the Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17A turbofan engine. The missing component was later recovered near the runway.
The investigation
Metallurgical examination of the thrust reverser components conducted at the NTSB laboratory revealed evidence of fatigue fractures located circumferentially around the tailpipe duct.