What happened
On July 2, 2024, an Airbus A330-343, registration T7-MMM, operated by PT Garuda Indonesia, was performing an unscheduled passenger flight from Solo, Indonesia, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While climbing through flight level 340, the aircraft's systems triggered an engine stall warning, accompanied by intense vibrations throughout the airframe. This was followed by a total loss of parameters for engine number one and an engine failure warning.
The flight crew declared a MAYDAY and initiated an emergency return to Adi Sumarmo International Airport. Upon landing, the pilot shut down the second engine after noticing a visible glow within the left engine. Shortly after the aircraft came to a halt, smoke and flames became visible around the left engine. During the subsequent evacuation via the right-side emergency slide, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures to the foot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of the engine and the flight recorders to determine the sequence of events. The examination of the engine revealed that a fan blade release had occurred in engine number one. The detached blade was powerful enough to penetrate the aluminum fan case and the retention panel, eventually lodging itself in the Kevlar shroud. This impact caused significant secondary damage, including the destruction of acoustic panels and the detachment of the starter air duct and valve. The force of the debris also caused the low-pressure fuel lines to crack.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was the uncontained release of a fan blade from the engine's low-pressure compressor.
- The released blade penetrated the engine's protective casing, leading to structural damage to the fan case, retention panel, and Kevlar shroud.
- The impact of the blade and resulting debris caused the failure of the starter air duct and the cracking of low-pressure fuel supply lines.
- The presence of sparks and subsequent flames was a direct consequence of the engine component failure and the resulting mechanical damage.