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Airbus eats Paperwork

Tasty.....

Quote:

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.”

Years ago a Pelair Westwind swallowed the TNT man's clipboard left on the wing. Bring another engine...

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.

Is ground function outsourced?

The cornerstone of any Low Fare Airline...

A novel way of shredding documents....

How much training is needed to learn you don't use a jet engine intake as a desk??

Some common dog fxxk would go a long way but that's not that common any more it would seem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rated De (Post 10066454)

Is ground function outsourced?

Of course it is. But it get’s worse than that, it’s outsourced to the lowest bidder. But that doesn’t seem to concern the ATSB.

No doubt the culprit thought he was safe, wearing a hi-viz jacket. No doubt he needed ear protection after the event..

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.

Jetstar turns back

Quote:

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

:uhoh: Goodness Me.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by framer (Post 10066443)

Completely agree. All the layers of OHS and risk management BS that companies force us to endure can't replace common sense. Abject failure of the training system - which always sucks the hind teat of the sow that aviation has become.

Quote:

How much training is needed to learn you don't use a jet engine intake as a desk??

Well, if you offer a low hourly rate and employ people who may or may not have experience in the aviation environment then you need to provide more training ( initial and ongoing) than if you pay more and get aviation folk who stick around the industry for decades and mentor their co-workers without even knowing it.
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?

Wonder how long before the clipboards will need to be made from the hi vis vest material with reflective racing stripes. :rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Driver (Post 10067509)

Wonder how long before the clipboards will need to be made from the hi vis vest material with reflective racing stripes. :rolleyes:

With a red ASIC:sad:

From Pravda:

Quote:

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.

Well, that fixes everything. :rolleyes:

Excellent news. They can put stuff in the pack inlets instead.

If it’s the same mob we use in Auckland, then they come across as more of a mature-age work experience program.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Driver (Post 10067509)

Wonder how long before the clipboards will need to be made from the hi vis vest material with reflective racing stripes. :rolleyes:

Perhaps a warning label on the clipboard: "Do not place inside engine!"

Or a label on the inlet - No Storage Here.

They just need "Remove Before Flight" flags hung on them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsnotthatbloodyhard (Post 10067592)

Excellent news. They can put stuff in the pack inlets instead.

If it’s the same mob we use in Auckland, then they come across as more of a mature-age work experience program.

Jetstar and Aerocare, which manages ground crews in New Zealand, released a notice saying engines must not be used for the placement of any foreign objects.
On Tuesday, a Jetstar spokesman said while the 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."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/trave...lipboard-scare

There is a lot about this incident that concerns me. However if we put aside the fact that it happened, why the hell did the Captain have to do all the leg work to find out the details from various sources. Surely Jetstar has an operations centre that should have bent over backwards to investigate and inform the crew what had happened. How does it make it better to impede the Captains ability to make a sound decision but not proactively giving him/her all the details up front?
I had heard Jetstar don't have ACARS, but surely they have a bloody sat-phone? Or is it just an old HF patch?

Jetstar definitely do have ACARS, Sat Phones only on the new A321’s and yes a very annoying HF patch.
Unfortunately it’s not uncommon to have issues trying to get through to Maintenance Watch which may have happened in this case

In his case they were having to converse with the Company on HF which is hard to do at the best of times. Also the real-time engine data isn’t controlled by Jetstar and has to be sourced from Qantas so takes forever.

The pilot checklist will be amended to read:
Before Starting Engines:
*Ask ground crew to hold up their clipboards, and conduct a count of those who do not have a clipboard showing.
*If the count is Zero, proceed with engine start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsnotthatbloodyhard (Post 10067592)

Excellent news. They can put stuff in the pack inlets instead.

You win the internet this week.

The engine damage was caused by silica gel dessicant bags which were accidentally left inside the air intakes for the port engines. When the take off run was initiated, the gel bags were unfortunately sucked through the engines and caused major internal compressor and combustion chamber damage.

Wouldn't it be easier to re-certify the engine to accept clipboard ingestion?

No mention of the despatch/starter who probably called clear to start two?

Quote:

“While this incident didn’t impact the safe operation of the aircraft

Really?.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herod (Post 10067425)

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.

So dispatchers are trained to examine aircraft for serviceability now....

Everybody involved around an aircraft should keep aircraft servicability in mind, and if something odd is noticed, they should bring it to the crew’s or push chief's attention. Over the years, I have occasionally been called out by a loader to check a hold door, or an oil/hyd leak, and I never mind checking.

The incident in this thread reminds me of the BA double cowl unlocked incident.

What ever happened to:

“Ground from flight deck, can I have your checks please?”

“Yes flight deck; all equipment removed, all hatches and holds secure. All intakes clear, beacon rotating, tug connected, chocks removed, standing by”.

?

Quote:

So dispatchers are trained to examine aircraft for serviceability now....

Anyone who works on the ramp around operating airliners should be trained on the basics. This is the basics. When was the last time you saw anyone other than an Engineer or Pilot picking up FOD? It’s rare even with the trained folk now days. The ramp culture of times past has been diluted to the point that it’s rare to see it raise its head. Don’t worry though, you can fly to the Goldie for $98.

This type of incident is the end result when you have Poorly paid/poorly trained Ground Staff!

Surprised passengers did not report confetti.

Surprised the pilots pressed on for a "considerable time" if they had concerns about the engine that was indicating and operating normally.

- Serious question, What is the procedure for keeping the paperwork dry for the ground crews when it is raining?

Quote:

Serious question, What is the procedure for keeping the paperwork dry for the ground crews when it is raining?

There isn't one, its common through winter to be handed 3 or 4 sheets of dripping wet paper that by this stage often resembles toilet paper.

Don’t get wound up, the safety of the flight was never effected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue Ridgepipe (Post 10070483)

Really?.....

Sue, modern engines are certified to ingest much larger/harder items than a clipboard - bird ingestion tests are far more challenging.
Perhaps some small deformation of a few fan blades where they impacted the metal clip on the clipboard and some impact damage to the acoustic lining aft of the fan after the big bits got flung outward.
Now, if he'd left a large wrench in the inlet....