2013 Cape Town Boeing 737-800 Rejected Take-Off (ZS-ZWP)

Incident Overview On 27 February 2013, a Boeing 737-800 with registration ZS-ZWP, operating as flight CAW104 for Kulula, was scheduled to depart Cape Town International Airport (FACT) for OR Tambo International Airport (FAOR). The aircraft carried 181 passengers and 6 crew members. During the take-off roll on Runway 01, the crew experienced a loud bang and vibration at approximately 30 kt. The No. 2 engine's N1 and N2 gauges indicated a zero reading, prompting the crew to execute a rejected take-off (RTO). The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, and no injuries were reported. ## Investigation Findings The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) investigated the incident. Engine debris, identified as turbine blade parts, was found scattered over a substantial area of the runway surface, leading to a temporary runway closure for clean-up. The investigation determined that the probable cause was an aborted take-off resulting from a No. 2 engine failure due to the failure of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) blade. A contributory factor was the failure of the HPT blade coating, which led to corrosion and subsequent blade failure. The aircraft's damage was contained to the No. 2 engine, and the flight crew successfully completed the emergency procedures.