What happened
On 1 February 2018, a Cathay Pacific Airways Limited Airbus A330-343, registration B-HLN, was performing a takeoff from Hong Kong International Airport. During the takeoff roll, the No.1 engine experienced an audible surge and triggered a stall message on the cockpit displays. Simultaneously, the crew observed high vibration levels in the N2 and N3 shafts, along with low oil pressure warnings.
Following standard operating procedures, the crew executed a commanded inflight shutdown of the engine and declared a Mayday. The aircraft successfully returned to the airport and landed without further incident. There were no injuries to the 272 passengers or 13 crew members on board.
The investigation
The AAIA investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engine. Initial ground inspections revealed metallic debris within the engine's jetpipe. Subsequent borescope examinations confirmed that a single high-pressure turbine blade had fractured.
The investigation examined the metallurgical properties of the failure, specifically looking at corrosion fatigue and the effectiveness of existing inspection protocols. The analysis involved coordinating with the engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch.