Tool forgotten inside,JetLite engine fails mid-flight

Official documents accessed by The Indian Express reveal that the engineer and a technician,while conducting ground maintenance work,left behind a tool in the engine cavity. The technician fitted the bolts but failed to notice a gap that was created after the covering didnt sit on the engine properly. Friction during the flight created a hole in the covering through which oil leaked and the engine failed.

On December 14,the airline finalised a Permanent Investigation Board. It was found that the oil leak and low-oil pressure warning from the No. 2 engine was caused due to oil leaking from a hole in the N2 drive pad. The hole in the N2 drive pad was caused by rubbing action of an expander tool which was left in the cavity of N2 drive during maintenance action on the engine during the previous night, states one of the documents.

On observing the low oil pressure,the crew initially conducted the necessary drills but then gave out a pan-pan call indicating an urgency on board to the Nagpur Air Traffic Control,which permitted an emergency landing.

Confirming the incident and the emergency landing,Jet Airways spokesperson Srirupa Sen said: This was necessitated as an engineer did not follow the recommended procedure in accordance with the maintenance manual. This oversight led to loss of engine oil during the flight,but in no way put our guests and crew under any threat. After rectification of the technical snag,the aircraft has been put back into service. The concerned engineer has been suspended pending investigation of the incident by DGCA Air Safety.