‘High risk’ of plane fault repeat
The plane came down just beyond Heathrow’s perimeter fence
Experts have warned there is a “high probability” that a fault which caused a British Airways jet to crash-land at Heathrow could hit other Boeing 777s.
US air accident investigators called for a component to be redesigned after a Delta Air Lines plane reportedly encountered a similar problem.
Manufacturers Rolls-Royce say the new part should be ready within the year.
It comes after tests proved a build-up of ice in the engine was the most likely cause of the Heathrow crash.
The Boeing 777, with 152 people on board, crashed in January 2008, causing one serious injury.
The captain and co-pilot were praised for averting a major disaster.
Power loss
On Thursday, a second report from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch said that, during the flight from Beijing, ice may have developed in the fuel pipes.
Then shortly before landing, owing to factors such as turbulence or engine acceleration, a large amount of ice may have been dislodged and suddenly released into the fuel system, causing a blockage.
With two of these rollback events occurring within a year, we believe that there is a high probability of something happening again
US official Mark Rosenker
Tests support BA crash ice theory
Ten months later, it is understood a Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 was affected by a similar problem, known in the industry as an engine rollback or sudden power loss.
The plane experienced a single engine rollback while cruising over Montana en route to Atlanta.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the US is now calling for a re-design of a component – known as a fuel/oil heat exchanger – to eliminate the potential for ice build-up.
Mark Rosenker, acting chairman of the NTSB, said: “With two of these rollback events occurring within a year, we believe that there is a high probability of something happening again.”
Rolls-Royce has said a new version of the component was already under way and it should be ready within 12 months.
There are currently 220 Boeing 777s in operation, 15 owned by British Airways.
bbc news
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