Incident Overview
On March 20, 2012, at approximately 06:46 local time, an Airbus A318, registration YR-ASC, operated a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Cluj-Napoca (LRCL) to Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (LROP). While climbing to flight level FL270, the crew observed fluctuations in specific parameters of engine number 1. They stopped the climb at FL250. During the subsequent descent, the parameter fluctuations reappeared, and at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet, engine number 1 failed completely.
Crew Actions
The flight crew declared a PAN PAN urgency, but did not request priority handling. The aircraft landed normally without further incident on runway 08R. According to the occurrence report, none of the occupants were injured, and there was no damage to the aircraft, third parties, or the aerodrome.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The Airbus A318 (serial number 3220, built in 2007) was equipped with two CFM56-5B8/P turbofan engines and had a maximum takeoff mass of 61,500 kg. The flight was conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR) as a general air traffic (GAT) operation. The flight plan indicated a cruising level of FL270, but the crew leveled off at FL250 due to the engine anomalies. The weather at the time reported daylight, sky clear, visibility 9,999 km, and temperature 5°C.
Investigation Status
At the time of this report, the investigation by the Romanian AAIB (Romanian Civil Aviation Investigation Authority) to determine the causes of this serious incident was ongoing. No probable cause has been established yet.