Summary
On 3 January 2019, an IndiGo Airbus A320-271 NEO aircraft, registration VT-ITW, was operating a scheduled flight from Chennai to Kolkata. During the climb phase, the crew heard a loud bang and received ECAM warnings for engine 2 stall, high vibration, and exhaust gas temperature overlimit. The aircraft returned to Chennai and landed safely. No injuries occurred among the 172 passengers and crew.
History of the Flight
The aircraft departed Chennai at approximately 1440 UTC. At 1505 UTC, while passing flight level 210, a loud bang was heard. ECAM alerts indicated ENG 2 STALL, followed by ENG 2 HGH VIB and ENG 2 EGT OVERLIMIT. The pilot-in-command took over controls and the crew followed QRH/FCOM procedures. Engine parameters showed N1 vibration at 10, N2 vibration at 8, and EGT increasing past 900°C. The crew decided to divert back to Chennai, receiving ATC clearance without declaring an emergency. The aircraft landed at Chennai at 1543 UTC.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-271 NEO, manufactured in 2017, equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1127G-JM engines. The pilot-in-command held an ATPL with 5474.21 hours total flying experience, and the co-pilot also held an ATPL with 3559.58 hours. Both had valid medical certificates.
Damage to Aircraft
Post-flight inspection and tear-down examination of engine #2 revealed:
- One HPC stage 8 rotor blade with a bend in the leading edge.
- Combustor segment burns on multiple places exceeding 6.35 mm.
- Combustion chamber outer seal cracked and chamber burned.
- HPT stage 1 blades with leading edge erosion and tip burns.
- HPT stage 1 vanes corroded and cracked; stage 2 vanes burned; some stage 2 blades bent at leading edge.
- LPT stage 2 blades bent; stage 1 blades impact damaged; all stage 3 blades fractured from tip.
- Turbine exhaust case and LPT case damaged; oil strains on nose cone and surrounding areas.
- Missing rivet from splitter; seal segment missing between NGV #3 and rotor blade row.
Investigation
The occurrence was classified as a serious incident under Rule 11(1) of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. An investigation was instituted to determine the probable cause(s). No probable cause was stated in the report.