Contained Engine Failure on MD-82 During Climb from Cape Town (ZS-TRD)

Incident Overview On 21 August 2005, an MD 82 aircraft registered ZS-TRD was operating a domestic scheduled flight from Cape Town International Airport (FACT) to OR Tambo International Airport (FAJS). The aircraft carried 2 crew members, 4 additional personnel, and 136 passengers. ## Sequence of Events The pilot-in-command reported that a normal take-off was conducted with the auto-throttle engaged in accordance with company standard operating procedures. During the take-off roll, the right-hand engine exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and N2 readings were slightly higher than those of the left-hand engine. While climbing through 3,000 feet above mean sea level, the crew heard several consecutive loud bangs and observed the right-hand engine spooling down. The automatic reserve thrust (ART) system activated on the left-hand engine. The crew shut down the right-hand engine and returned to FACT for an uneventful landing. ## Damage Assessment The right-hand engine sustained a contained failure. A boroscope inspection performed by the South African Technical Maintenance Control Centre identified a nick 5.5 inches from the blade root on one fan blade, severe trailing edge damage on several low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades, extensive leading edge damage and tip separation on high-pressure compressor (HPC) blades, and leading edge damage on the first-stage high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades. ## Investigation Findings The pattern of damage to the fan, compressor, and turbine blades indicated that foreign object damage (FOD) was the primary cause of the engine failure. No injuries or fatalities were reported. Weather conditions at the time were fine, with calm surface winds and a temperature of 15°C.