The Hong Kong Air Accidents Investigation Authority (AAIA) preliminary report confirmed that the engine fire on the Airbus A350-1000 of Cathay Pacific, which resulted in an emergency return, was due to a damaged fuel hose on engine number two.
According to the AAIA, Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350-1000, registration B-LXI, was scheduled to fly CX383 from Hong Kong to Zurich on September 2. The aircraft, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97, took off from runway 07R. Shortly after takeoff, the crew received an engine fire alert and began following the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) procedures.
Explaining ECAM, the AAIA said it is an Airbus system that displays engine and aircraft data to pilots and presents the problem in the event of a failure, with instructions on how to resolve it. The crew shut down engine number 2 and used a fire extinguisher, which caused the fire warning to disappear within 59 seconds.
The AAIA said the pilots initially declared MAYDAY but later changed the emergency to PAN PAN, meaning the situation did not pose an immediate risk to the lives of engers. After dumping fuel, the A350-1000 landed back at HKG more than an hour after takeoff.
During the post-flight inspection, the AAIA found a rupture in the steel braided sheath of the secondary fuel manifold hose connected to the number 17 spray nozzle, evidenced by a hole in the hose. In addition, five other manifold hoses also had frayed metal braids or collapsed internal structures.
Further inspection showed that fuel could have leaked through the damaged secondary manifold hose. With oxygen and a heat source, this could have caused a fire that would have spread to the surrounding area.
On September 3, the AAIA sent a safety recommendation to EASA, suggesting inspection of the secondary fuel manifold hoses.
“This serious incident illustrates the potential for fuel leaks through a ruptured secondary fuel manifold hose, which could result in engine fires. Therefore, swift action is required.”
On September 5th, the Rolls-Royce and EASA took immediate action, with the Rolls-Royce issuing a non-modification service bulletin (NMSB) and EASA publishing an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD).
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