What happened
During the climb phase of the flight, cabin crewmembers first detected an unusual odour within the aircraft. This was accompanied by an ECAM message indicating an 'ENG 2 OIL FILTER CLOG'. Shortly thereafter, smoke began to enter both the flight deck and the passenger cabin.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure that triggered the smoke and the engine warning. It was determined that the initial odour and the oil filter clog message were early indicators of a developing issue with the engine's internal components. Specifically, the investigation identified that the number 3 bearing failed, which subsequently caused the right engine to suffer a complete loss of power.
Findings
- The primary driver of the event was the failure of the number 3 bearing in the right engine.
- The progression of the bearing failure led to the loss of engine power.
- The mechanical failure was the direct cause of smoke entering the flight deck and the cabin.