Hong Kong probe reveals Cathay Airbus engine failure due to ruptured fuel hose By Reuters

(Reuters) -A probe by Hong Kong’s aviation accident investigation agency revealed Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A350 engine failed in-flight due to a ruptured fuel hose which also showed signs of a fire, the agency’s report stated on Thursday.

Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) found a ruptured fuel hose in the second engine of the Cathay Pacific-operated A350 jet, with five additional secondary fuel hoses also showing signs of wear and tear.

The investigation confirms Reuters’ earlier report which cited sources saying the initial checks revealed a hose between a manifold and a fuel injection nozzle was pierced.

“This serious incident illustrates the potential for fuel leaks through the ruptured secondary fuel manifold hose, which could result in engine fires,” the report stated.

A “serious incident” is an investigative term in aviation that pointed to a high probability of an accident.

“If not promptly detected and addressed, this situation, along with further failures, could escalate into a more serious engine fire, potentially causing extensive damage to the aircraft,” AAIA said in the report.

The A350-1000 and XWB-97 engines, manufactured by Rolls-Royce (OTC:), have been under the spotlight since Cathay’s Zurich-bound passenger flight CX383 was forced to return to Hong Kong after it received an engine fire warning shortly after take-off on Sept. 2.

Cathay Pacific began inspecting all its Airbus A350 jets after the incident. It was the first component of its type to suffer such a failure on any A350 aircraft worldwide, Cathay said at the time.

Earlier this month, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also ordered inspections on engines of Airbus A350-1000 jets as it moved to prevent similar events after consulting regulators and accident investigators in Hong Kong, as well as Airbus and Rolls-Royce.

The AAIA, in its report, recommended the EASA to ask Rolls-Royce to continue giving airworthiness information, including inspection requirements of the secondary fuel manifold hoses of its engines to ensure their serviceability.

Cathay did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation’s findings.