Engine failure hits IndiGo, Airbus 320 neo aircraft grounded at Delhi's IGI Airport
IndiGo’s engine woes seem to be far from getting over. On Sunday, an IndiGo Airbus 320 neo aircraft, flying from Bengaluru-Delhi, was grounded at Delhi's IGI Airport due to engine snag.
According to an Economic Times report, an oil chip was detected in the engine number one.
Later in the evening, the airline issued a statement.
‘An A320 neo aircraft that operated Bangalore-Delhi today morning was proactively withdrawn in Delhi for a maintenance check to attend to a Pilot Reported Defect. These maintenance checks are part of a comprehensive program of early detection,’ IndiGo said.
Confirming the chip report, the airline said, ‘During the maintenance check, metal chips were observed on # 1 Engine, # 3 Bearing Chip detector which is a known concern on the Neo engine.’
The ET report said that this was the fourth such case involving neo engine.
On March 12, the aviation regulator DGCA had ordered IndiGo and GoAir to immediately ground 11 A320 neo planes powered with a certain series of Pratt & Whitney engines after three incidents of mid-air engine failures in less than a month.
A total of 14 A320 neo aircraft fitted with specific series of engines -- 11 are operated by IndiGo and 3 by GoAir – were grounded. Three IndiGo planes are already on the ground following the problem.
Citing safety of aircraft operations, the DGCA had said, A320 neos fitted with PW1100 engines beyond ESN 450 have been grounded with immediate effect.
It is rare for the Indian regulator to ground aircraft and the latest one is at least only the third such instance in decades.
Back in 1990, A320 planes operated by then Indian Airlines were grounded following a deadly crash that had killed 89 people. Later in 2013, Air India's Boeing 737 aircraft were grounded in the wake of lithium battery issues. Both bans were subsequently revoked.
According to the regulator, P&W in its latest communication has also not given any firm commitment as to when the issue on the engine post serial number 450 would be resolved.
P&W has also informed that "all the affected engines will be replaced by early June 2018", the DGCA said, adding that there is no concrete proposal in place at this stage to address the issue.
In less than three weeks, there have been as many incidents of in-flight shut down of A320 neos fitted with one P&W 1100 engine.
(With agency inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "indigo aircraft")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}