Summary
On July 26, 2016, at 13:12 UTC, the crew of an Airbus A321-211, registration SP-HAZ, operating flight LLP8817 from Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA) to Ibiza (LEIB), received an ECAM alert for ENG 2 REV UNLOCKED after takeoff from runway 29 at an altitude of 400 feet. The crew decided to return to the departure airport, declared PAN PAN, and leveled off at 4,000 feet. An uncertainty phase was declared at EPWA at 13:18 UTC. The crew performed a 40-minute holding procedure as coordinated with tower control to burn fuel and reduce landing weight to permissible limits. The holding ended at 13:56 UTC, the uncertainty phase was cancelled at 14:04 UTC, and the aircraft landed at 14:05 UTC. Post-landing, a maintenance team from a Part 145 organization inspected the aircraft and deferred the fault per the operator’s Minimum Equipment List (MEL), after which the aircraft continued operations.
Findings
The aircraft was an Airbus A321-211 operated by Small Planet Airlines. The flight was a scheduled passenger service from Warsaw to Ibiza. The crew consisted of professional airline pilots. No injuries were reported among occupants.
Cause
The incident was caused by a fault of the lock of the thrust reverser of engine 2 for an undetermined reason.