Incident Details
On September 18, 2013, a LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-8, registration SP-LRB, powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 100-67B turbofan engines, experienced a maintenance status message “ENG FUEL FULTER R” while in cruise from Beijing Capital International Airport (ZBAA) to Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA). After the flight, maintenance personnel discovered that the engine fuel filter in the No. 2 (right) engine had not been installed. Further inspection of the left engine on the same airplane also revealed the absence of a fuel filter.
Additional Findings
On September 19, 2013, a second LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-8, registration SP-LRC, was inspected and likewise found to have no fuel filters installed in its engines.
Investigation
The Polish State Commission of the Aircraft Accident Investigation is investigating these maintenance errors. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been delegated part of the investigation, as the United States is the State of Manufacture for the airplane and the country where the most recent engine maintenance occurred.