 Compressor surging of Boeing 737-800 left

engine
 CFM-56 7B engine
 20th August, 2009
 Launceston to Sydney, Australia

www.lh5.ggpht.com Accessed Nov.4 , 2010

 Fuel Flow (FF) decreased
 Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) increased
 35 minutes after takeoff
 High Pressure Compressor (HPC) surge
 Engine set to flight idle
 Aircraft returned safely
B 737-800 Power Plant Training Manual, ALTEON
B 737-800 Power Plant Training Manual, ALTEON
 Investigated by Australian Transport Safety
Board (ATSB)
 Borescope inspection conducted
 Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice
recorder sent to ATSB
 36 similar incidents have occurred
 Engine sent to GE facility
◦ Full engine teardown and inspection
 Borescope inspection on the left engine
◦ Damage to HPC rotors
◦ Missing HPC seal segments around 3rd stage stator
◦ Loose HPC seals observed on 1st and 2nd stage
 FDR data analysis
◦ FF & EGT changed over the last two flights
 Engine teardown
◦ Seal segments
ATSB, Aviation Occurrence Investigation A0-2009-053, Final Report, July 2010
ATSB, Aviation Occurrence Investigation
A0-2009-053, Final Report, July 2010
 Some airline operators have changed check
intervals
 Manufacturer has redesigned parts
1. The check times should be reduced
2. Investigation of improved assembly,
material, better fitting
3. Up-to-date Engine Health Monitoring (EHM)
Material Assembly Industry
Maintenance
selection procedure practices
 Failure rate influenced by
◦ Maintenance check intervals
◦ Materials selection
◦ Assembly procedures
 Constant monitoring can reveal problems
Questions?