China Eastern A330 could return to skies by weekend

A CHINA Eastern A330 should be back in service by the weekend after a bizarre engine malfunction left a gaping hole in the cowling.

A CHINA EASTERN Airlines’ A330 grounded by a bizarre engine malfunction could be back in the sky later this week.

Oceania General Manager for China Eastern, Kathy Zhang, said a new left engine was due to arrive at Sydney Airport late yesterday (Wed).

The aircraft was forced to return to Sydney shortly after takeoff Sunday night, when a large tear appeared in the left engine covering as a result of an engine malfunction.

Those on board reported hearing a loud bang before noticing the gaping hole in the cowling and a burning smell.

No-one was hurt, and the plane landed safely after dumping fuel off Sydney.

A China Eastern Airbus A330 passenger aircraft, awaits a new left engine at Sydney Airport. Picture: AFP/William West

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has begun an investigation to determine why “a section of the left engine inlet separated from the aircraft”.

The damaged Trent 772 engine will be stripped down with assistance of manufacturer Rolls Royce.

Maintenance records are also being reviewed, along with the flight data recorder, and cockpit voice recorder.

The ATSB has also warned anyone who might come across aircraft debris, to avoid touching it and to contact local police.

Quick returns to service by aircraft after engine issues are not uncommon.

Last month, a Qantas A380 was back in the air within a week of a dramatic midair engine shutdown after leaving Los Angeles to fly to Melbourne.

Qantas was quick to get an A380 back in the air after a midair engine shutdown. Picture: Supplied

The fourth engine was promptly replaced at the Qantas hangar at LAX, and the A380 has been operating without issue since late May.

An engineering team from Rolls Royce is expected to complete its own examination of the failed Trent 900 engine by Friday (June 16).

Further investigations are underway by the ATSB, Airbus, the French bureau of air safety and Qantas itself.

At the time, Qantas spokesman Stephen Moynihan said those types of “in-flight shutdowns were quite rare”.

The China Eastern event was expected to lead to a “fix” being provided by Rolls Royce, after a previous incident involving the same sort of Trent 772 engine on an Egypt Air A330.

Possible causes include acoustic panel collapse brought on by vibrations during takeoff, and cracking of the air intake cowls due to acoustic vibrations and excitations.

A preliminary report on the incident by the ATSB is expected in a month.