Incident: Smartwings B738 over Aegean Sea on Aug 22nd 2019, engine shut down in flight, aircraft continued to Prague
By Simon Hradecky, created Friday, Aug 23rd 2019 13:40Z, last updated Sunday, Aug 25th 2019 15:52Z
A Smartwings Boeing 737-800, registration OK-TVO performing flight QS-1125 from Samos (Greece) to Prague (Czech Republic) with 170 people on board, was enroute at FL360 over the Aegean Sea about 100nm northeast of Athens (Greece) when the crew drifted the aircraft down to FL240 and continued to Prague at FL240 for a landing without further incident about 2:20 hours later.
The Aviation Herald received information that the #1 engine (CFM56, left hand) shut down spontaneously while enroute at FL360. The crew descended the aircraft to FL240, worked the related checklists and attempted to relight the engine twice, first using windmilling and then using crossbleed, the engine however did not restart. As there was sufficient fuel on board the crew decided to continue to Prague nonetheless.
The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 17 hours after landing in Prague.
On Aug 24th 2019 The Aviation Herald received additional information stating maintenance performed a wet run of the engine after landing, which failed, the engine valve closed light remained illuminated and no fuel was supplied to the engine. Maintenance subsequently replaced the hydro mechanical unit (HMU), fuel filter nozzle, servo fuel heater, fuel pump and fuel heat exchanger, subsequently a test 5 - power assurance test - was performed and was passed.
On Aug 24th 2019 the airline confirmed the occurrence to Czech Media, e.g. irozhlas and zdopravy stating: "The crew proceeded in accordance with the safety and operational procedures for these cases and the aircraft landed safely. The commander is one of the most experienced in the company, the crew was in control of the situation and certainly would not underestimate anything."
On Aug 23rd 2019 (verified by AVH on Aug 25th 2019) Reader Marc had reported in the reader comments:
I work at Budapest ACC and I was in contact with this A/C when they overflew Hungary. Not a word did they mention about engine failure we were informed about a "technical issue". That is in most cases an air con failure for the 737 to fly at 240 or 250. So they came in at FL240 as they reached the Austrian border we sent them to Vienna Approach.
10 minutes later they called us back to inquire us why we haven't told them about the engine failure. It turned out that the failure was announced over Prague, Vienna then called us back but we didn't know either. Serbians were also unaware and I also asked my colleague who was working at KFOR (Kosovo) airspace - it is also operated from Budapest - but he didn't know either.
I think that tells a lot about this airline. And just to add: This evening I had 2 A/C in 20 minutes from this operator on my frequency cruising at 250 so it's not so unusual to see the like that.
By Simon Hradecky, created Friday, Aug 23rd 2019 13:40Z, last updated Sunday, Aug 25th 2019 15:52Z
A Smartwings Boeing 737-800, registration OK-TVO performing flight QS-1125 from Samos (Greece) to Prague (Czech Republic) with 170 people on board, was enroute at FL360 over the Aegean Sea about 100nm northeast of Athens (Greece) when the crew drifted the aircraft down to FL240 and continued to Prague at FL240 for a landing without further incident about 2:20 hours later.
The Aviation Herald received information that the #1 engine (CFM56, left hand) shut down spontaneously while enroute at FL360. The crew descended the aircraft to FL240, worked the related checklists and attempted to relight the engine twice, first using windmilling and then using crossbleed, the engine however did not restart. As there was sufficient fuel on board the crew decided to continue to Prague nonetheless.
The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 17 hours after landing in Prague.
On Aug 24th 2019 The Aviation Herald received additional information stating maintenance performed a wet run of the engine after landing, which failed, the engine valve closed light remained illuminated and no fuel was supplied to the engine. Maintenance subsequently replaced the hydro mechanical unit (HMU), fuel filter nozzle, servo fuel heater, fuel pump and fuel heat exchanger, subsequently a test 5 - power assurance test - was performed and was passed.
On Aug 24th 2019 the airline confirmed the occurrence to Czech Media, e.g. irozhlas and zdopravy stating: "The crew proceeded in accordance with the safety and operational procedures for these cases and the aircraft landed safely. The commander is one of the most experienced in the company, the crew was in control of the situation and certainly would not underestimate anything."
On Aug 23rd 2019 (verified by AVH on Aug 25th 2019) Reader Marc had reported in the reader comments:
I work at Budapest ACC and I was in contact with this A/C when they overflew Hungary. Not a word did they mention about engine failure we were informed about a "technical issue". That is in most cases an air con failure for the 737 to fly at 240 or 250. So they came in at FL240 as they reached the Austrian border we sent them to Vienna Approach.
10 minutes later they called us back to inquire us why we haven't told them about the engine failure. It turned out that the failure was announced over Prague, Vienna then called us back but we didn't know either. Serbians were also unaware and I also asked my colleague who was working at KFOR (Kosovo) airspace - it is also operated from Budapest - but he didn't know either.
I think that tells a lot about this airline. And just to add: This evening I had 2 A/C in 20 minutes from this operator on my frequency cruising at 250 so it's not so unusual to see the like that.
