Sir - I refer to the "potentially catastrophic multiple-engine failure on a British Aerospace 146", as reported in the article "RAF Queen's Flight contractor comes under safety audit" (Flight International, 3-9 December, 1997, P17).
There was another incident some years ago. Like that on the BAe 146, a catastrophe was averted by the skilful flying of the aircrew concerned.
Part of the reason that the incident occurred was because it is common engineering practice to check all magnetic-chip detectors on a multi-engined aircraft at the same time.
Surely it would not be too difficult to arrange that chip detectors are checked at different times, thereby removing the potential hazard of a mistake being made on all engines.
N J Dunsford
Torquay, Devon, UK
Source: Flight International
