What happened
On June 15, 2010, an Alitalia Airbus A330-202, registration EI-DIP, was performing a scheduled flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Rome Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO). During the takeoff roll, a fire was reported in the No. 1 (left) engine.
Witnesses observed fire and smoke emitting from the No. 1 engine tailpipe. The crew responded by reducing the No. 1 engine power to idle and executed an air turn back to Boston. The aircraft landed at BOS without incident, and there were no injuries reported to the passengers or crew. The crew shut down the General Electric CF6-80E1A4 engine during the landing roll.
The investigation
While the pilot reported receiving Engine Condition and Monitoring (ECAM) messages indicating an exhaust gas temperature (EGT) increase and an N1 overspeed, subsequent examination of the flight data recorder (FDR) and the quick access recorder (QAR) showed no indications of an engine overspeed or overtemperature event.
Physical inspection of the No. 1 engine showed no fire damage under the cowl; however, investigators found oil and metal particles within the engine tailpipe. Additionally, the oil magnetic chip collector was found to be covered in metal shavings.