Cathay Pacific has stopped refuelling its aircraft in Surabaya, pending an investigation into why both engines on one of its Airbus A330-300s experienced problems while en route from the Indonesian city.
The aircraft carried out a high-speed landing at Hong Kong on 13 April, with flight-data analysis showing the right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 700 powerplant had been at idle thrust during the entire approach while thrust on the left-hand engine had "frozen" at 70% of maximum.
This higher thrust setting on the left-hand engine resulted in a landing at 230kt (425km/h), with an incorrect flap configuration. The high-speed landing led six of the aircraft's tyres to deflate and, after receiving indications of flames from the heated landing gear, the crew ordered an evacuation of the aircraft via the slides.
Cathay says aircraft on its Surabaya-Hong Kong flights will refuel in Jakarta while investigations continue. "Our decision doesn't mean that any conclusion on this aspect of the investigation has been reached, only that Cathay Pacific feels that it is a prudent measure that needs to be implemented in the interests of its passengers and crew," says the airline.
Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department has said that its investigation would look into areas such as the aircraft's systems, the possibility of human error, weather conditions and the quality of fuel, according to Hong Kong news reports. It has sent fuel samples from the aircraft for testing and is analysing the flight data recorders.
R-R declines to comment on the precise circumstances of incident, saying only that it is "working closely with our customer and the relevant authorities to assist them with the investigation".
Source: Flight International
