Airbus eats Paperwork
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Asia
Airbus eats Paperwork
Tasty.....
A GROUND crew member forced a mid-air diversion, after leaving a clipboard in the right engine of a Jetstar A320 plane flying between Auckland and Sydney.
The worker was inspecting the aircraft when he placed a clipboard containing paperwork inside one of the engines to protect it from the rain and wind — and then forgot all about it.
The plane was scheduled to fly between Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney on October 27 when the incident occurred. It was already in the air by the time the captain was alerted to the situation by an Auckland air traffic controller, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report.
“While preparing the aircraft for departure the leading hand placed a clipboard in the right engine which was subsequently ingested during start-up,” the ATSB report found.
“During the (subsequent) walk-around the dispatcher noticed the clipboard in the right engine but, believing it would be retrieved prior to the aircraft departing, the dispatcher did not notify the leading hand or supervisor of the foreign object debris as per company procedures.”
The Jetstar flight. Picture: Aerocare, modified by the ATSB
The Jetstar flight. Picture: Aerocare, modified by the ATSB
The captain was notified there was a problem after debris - the remains of the clipboard - was found on the runway after the plane had taken off.
Once notified, the captain scrambled, first checking the plane’s engine instruments and finding no abnormal indications. He then pressed flight control for more information, and was informed the clipboard had been placed in the inlet and that paper debris had been found on the tarmac.
The next step was to contact the company’s engineer at the airport, to find out if is was just paperwork or a clipboard containing a metal clip, and was told that a piece of sheared metal had been found.
Uncertain what damage had been done to the engine he made the decision to return to Auckland.
The aircraft was inspected and paper was found throughout the engine.
Minor damage was found to an engine fan blade and attrition liner, a part used to dampen noise that’s located on the inside of the engine.
A forgotten clipboard in a Jetstar plane engine caused the flight drama.
A forgotten clipboard in a Jetstar plane engine caused the flight drama.
The ATSB warned of the seriousness of such a situation, staying: “The presence of foreign object debris poses a significant threat to aircraft safety. It has the potential to cause aircraft damage during critical phases of flight, costing airlines and airports millions of dollars each year.
“This incident demonstrates the effect foreign object debris has on aircraft operations and emphasises the importance of not placing objects in aircraft engines. It further highlights that all staff operating near aircraft are responsible for reporting any non-normal events they encounter.
“It should not be assumed that others will perform a task where a hazard has been identified.”
The report also detailed how the captain faced several obstacles in trying to piece together exactly what was going on.
“The captain stated that, to obtain more information about the incident, numerous calls were made to other agencies, which took considerable time. Further, due to poor communications, he was unable to contact the operator’s maintenance controller to discuss the engine’s status.”
A Jetstar spokesperson told news.com.au its safety procedures have been updated following the incident.
“A plastic clipboard was inadvertently left on the engine cowl of a Jetstar A320 aircraft by our ground handler at Auckland Airport just prior to departure,” the spokesperson said.
“While this incident didn’t impact the safe operation of the aircraft, we take it very seriously. Since this occurred we have updated our procedures which includes a specific warning about not placing items in the engine cowling and improved detail around checks and responsibilities of the aircraft dispatch process.”
The worker was inspecting the aircraft when he placed a clipboard containing paperwork inside one of the engines to protect it from the rain and wind — and then forgot all about it.
The plane was scheduled to fly between Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney on October 27 when the incident occurred. It was already in the air by the time the captain was alerted to the situation by an Auckland air traffic controller, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report.
“While preparing the aircraft for departure the leading hand placed a clipboard in the right engine which was subsequently ingested during start-up,” the ATSB report found.
“During the (subsequent) walk-around the dispatcher noticed the clipboard in the right engine but, believing it would be retrieved prior to the aircraft departing, the dispatcher did not notify the leading hand or supervisor of the foreign object debris as per company procedures.”
The Jetstar flight. Picture: Aerocare, modified by the ATSB
The Jetstar flight. Picture: Aerocare, modified by the ATSB
The captain was notified there was a problem after debris - the remains of the clipboard - was found on the runway after the plane had taken off.
Once notified, the captain scrambled, first checking the plane’s engine instruments and finding no abnormal indications. He then pressed flight control for more information, and was informed the clipboard had been placed in the inlet and that paper debris had been found on the tarmac.
The next step was to contact the company’s engineer at the airport, to find out if is was just paperwork or a clipboard containing a metal clip, and was told that a piece of sheared metal had been found.
Uncertain what damage had been done to the engine he made the decision to return to Auckland.
The aircraft was inspected and paper was found throughout the engine.
Minor damage was found to an engine fan blade and attrition liner, a part used to dampen noise that’s located on the inside of the engine.
A forgotten clipboard in a Jetstar plane engine caused the flight drama.
A forgotten clipboard in a Jetstar plane engine caused the flight drama.
The ATSB warned of the seriousness of such a situation, staying: “The presence of foreign object debris poses a significant threat to aircraft safety. It has the potential to cause aircraft damage during critical phases of flight, costing airlines and airports millions of dollars each year.
“This incident demonstrates the effect foreign object debris has on aircraft operations and emphasises the importance of not placing objects in aircraft engines. It further highlights that all staff operating near aircraft are responsible for reporting any non-normal events they encounter.
“It should not be assumed that others will perform a task where a hazard has been identified.”
The report also detailed how the captain faced several obstacles in trying to piece together exactly what was going on.
“The captain stated that, to obtain more information about the incident, numerous calls were made to other agencies, which took considerable time. Further, due to poor communications, he was unable to contact the operator’s maintenance controller to discuss the engine’s status.”
A Jetstar spokesperson told news.com.au its safety procedures have been updated following the incident.
“A plastic clipboard was inadvertently left on the engine cowl of a Jetstar A320 aircraft by our ground handler at Auckland Airport just prior to departure,” the spokesperson said.
“While this incident didn’t impact the safe operation of the aircraft, we take it very seriously. Since this occurred we have updated our procedures which includes a specific warning about not placing items in the engine cowling and improved detail around checks and responsibilities of the aircraft dispatch process.”
Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 1,202
From: 41S174E
I have read the ATSB report and have to say I am disappointed in the findings.
Not once does the report mention training, and the solution is to bark a bit louder at the employees , no mention of training whatsoever.
The Leading Hand placed the clipboard in the engine.....training ?
The dispatcher did a walk around and saw the clipboard but she thought it didn’t qualify as FOD as it was the aircrafts loading paperwork......training?
The problem wasn’t that the manuals had the wrong words in them, the problem is that the employees are ill equipped to hold the responsibility of their roles. That’s not their fault, they haven’t been trained properly because it costs too much.
Not once does the report mention training, and the solution is to bark a bit louder at the employees , no mention of training whatsoever.
The Leading Hand placed the clipboard in the engine.....training ?
The dispatcher did a walk around and saw the clipboard but she thought it didn’t qualify as FOD as it was the aircrafts loading paperwork......training?
The problem wasn’t that the manuals had the wrong words in them, the problem is that the employees are ill equipped to hold the responsibility of their roles. That’s not their fault, they haven’t been trained properly because it costs too much.
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,115
Likes: 1,090
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
No doubt the culprit thought he was safe, wearing a hi-viz jacket. No doubt he needed ear protection after the event..
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 190
Likes: 21
From: In the Trees
Outsourcing ground functions is commonplace throughout the world, it’s certainly not just the domain of LCC’s. Qantas only really has its own ramp staff at major Australian airports. Even gate staff may be in Qantas uniforms but they are external contractors...it’s a sign of the times.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 806
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From: 59°09N 002°38W (IATA: SOY, ICAO: EGER)
Goodness Me.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 4,332
Likes: 486
From: England
Nice to see that the Captain "scrambled". I should think after landing, he probably boiled, and if he had found the culprit, that man would have been fried.
Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,563
Likes: 786
From: The Coal Face
I have read the ATSB report and have to say I am disappointed in the findings.
Not once does the report mention training, and the solution is to bark a bit louder at the employees , no mention of training whatsoever.
The Leading Hand placed the clipboard in the engine.....training ?
The dispatcher did a walk around and saw the clipboard but she thought it didn’t qualify as FOD as it was the aircrafts loading paperwork......training?
The problem wasn’t that the manuals had the wrong words in them, the problem is that the employees are ill equipped to hold the responsibility of their roles. That’s not their fault, they haven’t been trained properly because it costs too much.
Not once does the report mention training, and the solution is to bark a bit louder at the employees , no mention of training whatsoever.
The Leading Hand placed the clipboard in the engine.....training ?
The dispatcher did a walk around and saw the clipboard but she thought it didn’t qualify as FOD as it was the aircrafts loading paperwork......training?
The problem wasn’t that the manuals had the wrong words in them, the problem is that the employees are ill equipped to hold the responsibility of their roles. That’s not their fault, they haven’t been trained properly because it costs too much.
Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 1,202
From: 41S174E
How much training is needed to learn you don't use a jet engine intake as a desk??
There is no free lunch.
My disappointment lay in the fact that the ATSB doesn’t have the courage to identify the real cause and is satisfied with supporting the way things are currently done even when safety is impacted. Or are the ATSB so inept now days that they believe what they wrote?
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 660
Likes: 114
From: Australia
From Pravda:
Well, that fixes everything. 
1. ATSB report – A report into a Sydney-bound Jetstar flight that returned to Auckland in October last year has been released. The aircraft returned after a clipboard was ingested into one of the A320’s engines. The report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the plastic clipboard was inadvertently left on the aircraft’s engine cowl by the ground handler at Auckland Airport just prior to departure. The incident did not impact the safe operation of the flight, and procedures have since been updated to include a specific warning about placing items in the engine cowling.
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 260
Likes: 5
From: Connecticut, USA