NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation to European Aviation Safety Agency Regarding Fan Blade Impact Analysis

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued Safety Recommendation A-19-023, designated under reference number DCA18MA142, addressed directly to the European Aviation Safety Agency. This directive urges the agency to expand its certification requirements for transport-category airplanes and aircraft engines. The core of the recommendation mandates that airplane and engine manufacturers must work collaboratively to analyze all critical fan blade impact locations across all engine operating conditions. This analysis must include the resulting fan blade fragmentation and the effects of fan-blade-out-generated loads on the nacelle structure. Furthermore, the NTSB requires the development of a method to ensure that these analysis findings are fully accounted for in the design of the nacelle structure and its components.