Explainer: What is the issue with Cathay Pacific's A350 Rolls-Royce engines?

China Airlines

04/09/2024 10:23

(Adds new Cathay Pacific comments on repairs and flight
schedules, developments from other airlines)
    By Lisa Barrington
       Sept 4 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways
 0293.HK  said on Tuesday it had inspected its entire Airbus
 AIR.PA  A350 fleet after the in-flight failure of a component
in an engine that is made by British manufacturer Rolls-Royce
 RR.L .
     
    WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FLIGHT?
    A problem unfolded several minutes after take-off on flight
CX383 from Hong Kong to Zurich on Monday, according to flight
tracking service FlightRadar24. 
A source familiar with the matter said a leak in a fuel system
appeared to have caused a brief engine fire that was quickly
extinguished by the crew of the Zurich-bound jet. 
    The five-year-old A350-1000 plane performed two wide circles
and dumped fuel over the sea before returning to Hong Kong where
it landed safely about 75 minutes after its departure.
     
    WHY DID THE A350 ENGINE FAIL?
    Cathay Pacific has not specified which engine component
failed in that particular flight, but the carrier said it was
the "first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350
aircraft worldwide".  
    After inspecting the fleet it said it found engine fuel
lines that required replacement in 15 A350s. 
    The source said the incident involved a leak in a system
designed to inject fuel to the XWB-97 engine, the Rolls-Royce
model used on the A350-1000.
    The system comprises a pipe that feeds fuel from an entry
point or manifold to a nozzle that sprays fuel into the
combustion chamber, the hot inner core of the engine.
    Sources said partially scorched parts were being analysed at
Rolls-Royce facilities on behalf of Hong Kong investigators, but
that no leaks had been found so far in other engines.
     
    HOW MANY TYPES OF A350S ARE THERE?
    The Airbus A350 is a twin-aisle long-haul aircraft that can
carry between 300 and 480 passengers. It comes in two sizes: the
A350-900 and the larger A350-1000, both powered exclusively by
Rolls-Royce engines. 
     
    WHAT ENGINE DOES THE A350 USE?
    The A350-1000 and the A350 freighter use Trent XWB-97
engines, Rolls-Royce's largest civil jet engine.
    The more popular A350-900 uses its Trent XWB-84 engines.    
        
    ARE ALL A350 ENGINES AFFECTED?
    Cathay Pacific said the incident occurred on one of its 18
A350-1000 planes. It has since identified 15 aircraft with
engine components that require replacement and six have already
gone through repairs, it said, without specifying which models. 
    Rolls-Royce on Tuesday noted the replacement could take
place while the engine remained on-wing. It also said it was
committed to working closely with Cathay Pacific, Airbus and
authorities conducting an investigation of the incident. 
    There were no immediate signs the incident would trigger
significant regulatory action involving all A350s, according to
the source familiar with the matter. 
     
    HOW MANY A350 AIRCRAFT COULD BE IMPACTED?
    There are 88 A350-1000 jets in operation worldwide,
according to Swiss aviation intelligence provider ch-aviation.
    The top six operators are Qatar Airways with 24 planes,
British Airways  ICAG.L  with 18, Cathay Pacific with 18, Virgin
Atlantic with 12 and Etihad Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL)
 9210.T  with five each. 
    There are 520 A350-900s in operation worldwide, ch-aviation
data showed.
    Broker Jefferies said in a note to clients on Monday that
234 XWB-97 engines had been delivered to customers by the end of
June.
     
    WHICH CATHAY PACIFIC FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED?
    Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday it had cancelled 45 return
flights on mostly regional Asian routes this week and all A350s
would be operational by Saturday. 
     
    WHAT ARE OTHER AIRLINES WITH A350S DOING?
JAL, which has five A350-1000s that are all less than a year
old, said it has conducted its own engine inspections. By
Tuesday, three had been inspected and found to be safe, the
carrier said, with the two others due to be checked on
Wednesday.
    Qatar Airways, the largest A350-1000 operator, said the
issue had no impact on its planes and it continues to monitor
developments.
Singapore Airlines said it was inspecting its A350-900 engines
as a precaution but there would be no impact on flights. It does
not have any A350-1000s.
    Taiwan's Starlux, which has six A350-900s said: "Out of
caution, we have contacted Rolls-Royce, the engine manufacturer,
and are awaiting an official reply."
Taiwan's China Airlines  2610.TW , which also operates 15
A350-900s but no A350-1000s, said its fleet did not use the
affected engines, so its operations would not be impacted.
    Air China, a major A350-900 operator, will perform general
engine checks, Chinese media reported. Air China did not respond
to a request for comment.

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Cathay Pacific inspections find 15 A350s need engine parts
replaced     ID:nL1N3KL054 
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(Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul; Additional reporting by
Maki Shiraki in Tokyo, Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Joanna
Plucinska in London; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Jamie Freed
and Ros Russell)
((mailto:lisa.barrington@thomsonreuters.com;))