What happened
During the takeoff roll, the number 2 engine of the aircraft sustained a birdstrike. This impact caused a small portion of a fan blade to be released. Following the incident, an ECAM ENG 2 FAIL alert was triggered in the cockpit. The flight crew responded by shutting down the affected engine and notifying air traffic control of the emergency. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Brisbane Airport to perform an unscheduled landing.
The investigation
The ATSB examined the flight data recorder, the cockpit voice recorder, and statements provided by the crew. Investigators identified the remains of two birds on the runway; however, because these specific birds did not show evidence of being ingested by the engine, it was determined that the engine failure was caused by an additional, unrecovered bird, identified as a masked lapwing.
During the investigation, it was noted that the cabin purser provided critical information to the flight crew regarding a potential fire in the number 2 engine observed from the cabin. This communication played a significant role in the captain's decision-making process. The investigation also looked into the mechanics of the failure, noting that while engines are built to withstand medium-sized birdstrikes, this specific event involved a rare combination of engine speed, the height of the fan blade at impact, and the angle of incidence.