G8-557

[SHM]

http://avherald.com/h?article=4a4bb10d

A GoAir Airbus A320-200, registration VT-WGB performing flight G8-557 from Delhi to Bangalore (India) with 187 passengers and 6 crew, was in the initial climb out of Delhi's runway 28 when the crew stopped the climb at 4000 feet due the left hand engine emitting bangs and streaks of flame. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Delhi for a safe landing on runway 28 about 15 minutes after departure.

Passengers reported the engine emitted bangs and streaks of flame for about 30 seconds, then the bangs and flames stopped.

Air Traffic Control reported the crew reported an engine failure during climb out and requested to return.

India's media are reporting that two boys observed flames from the tail of the aircraft as it climbed out, ran into the house and informed their aunt, who called police telling police about an aircraft in flames and emitting unusual noise.

India's Police reported they received calls from three residents of the area about an aircraft engulfed in flames and emitting unusual noise. They called the airport operations center, who in turn called Air Traffic Control, who confirmed the aircraft had already returned for a landing.

India's DGCA reported they are investigating the occurrence. On the previous day while flying from Mumbai to Delhi the crew had received a low oil pressure indication enroute about one hour into the flight, some time later a magnetic chip detector warning came up. Following safe landing the licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (LAME) should have checked the engine due to the magnetic chip detector indication, however, returned the aircraft to service under minimum equipment list requirements permitting it to continue for 10 hours. The aircraft subsequently flew to Leh, could not land there and returned to Delhi, then flew to Guwahati and back. The LAMEs checking the aircraft before departure to Banglaore did not realize that the aircraft had already done 9 hours and would be beyond the 10 hours under MEL upon arrival into Bangalore. The DGCA suspended the license of one of the LAMEs involved pending investigation.

The airline reported they strictly complied with the maintenance regulations by the manufacturer, which permitted up to 10 hours under MEL following a magnetic chip detector indication until the cause of the indication was to be determined.