Swiss grounds all 29 A220s

After two confirmed LPC disk failures, and an engine shutdown today, Swiss has announced they are immediately grounding all 29 of their A220 (formerly CSeries) aircraft. They operate 9 -100s and 20 -300s.

On July 25th, a Swiss flight diverted to Paris after flames were seen coming from the engine. It was determined that one of the LPC disks had separated and departed the engine. It still hasn't been found. Then on September 16, another aircraft on the same route was forced to return to Geneva after an engine failure. A fractured LPC disk was found there as well.

The latest incident involved a flight from London to Geneva, the opposite direction of the previous two flights. It diverted to Paris after a "technical irregularity".

m.atwonline.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

An FFA directive on the incidence also mentions another engine because of type similarities,

"Although these incidents occurred on PW1524G-3 model turbofan engines, the FAA is including PW1900 engines because similarities in type design make these engines susceptible to the same unsafe condition."

news.aviation-safety.net...

I'm taking it that the linked directive was given sometime in late September.

a reply to: smurfy

Yes, after the second incident the inspection directive was sent out. The 1500G and the 1900G, according to the type certificate, are the same engine, with the major differences being how they attach to the wing. That's why both were included.

Swiss airlines' Airbus A220 fleet to resume flying Switzerland's main airline Swiss International Air Lines said that it expected more than half its fleet of Airbus A220s to resume flying on Wednesday.

The airline said checks proved their engines were in "perfect condition." The announcement came after Swiss urgently grounded its entire fleet of A220s, which counted 29 aircraft, on Tuesday after one of the planes experienced technical problems.

Seventeen of the "aircraft have already been inspected. The engines are in perfect condition, so that 12 aircraft have returned to regular flight operations," Swiss said in a statement, adding that an additional five should be cleared to fly later on Wednesday. Swiss expects regular operations to be fully restored on Thursday, the company said.

Link

Ooooopha that geared turbofan again. I mean Pratt has NO choice but to make it work but at what point to airlines start balking. With the 220 its the only option at this point.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I sure respect the Swiss aviation authority for this
instead of oh the FAA that spends time "negotiating" with the airlines over issues and (using this case) just require some more inspections (note with no time frame given) .
the swiss when there was a clear problem GROUNDED RIGHT AWAY the aircraft
yes it took two or three examples... but no negotiation, listening to excuses why the aircraft should keep flying while "waiting for more proof" (or similar rot).
Just there is a confirmed problem so until it is shown fixed ... YOUR GROUNDED NOW.
when CLEAR PROOF of problem solved (or not found)... THEN YOU FLY...

scrounger

Almost an identical repeat for the same flight back in 2014.

www.theguardian.com...