Sometime during the last weeks, the NTSB has released a preliminary report on the Southwest engine failure incident on November 17, 2007 in Dallas, TX. Finally, we now know the proper registration number.
NTSB Identification: ENG08IA002
Air Carrier operation of SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO
Incident occurred: Saturday, November 17, 2007 in Dallas, TX
Aircraft: Boeing 737-300, registration: N676SW
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
“On November 17, 2007, a Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737-300, registration number N676SW, flight
number 438, experienced a failure of the No. 2 engine, a CFMI CFM56-3B1, while climbing through
FL250 to FL330. The flight crew reported feeling severe vibration, pulled both throttles back to
idle, declared an emergency and started an air turn back to Love Field (DAL), Dallas TX. While
heading back the pilot reported seeing several cockpit warnings related to the No. 2 engine. The
pilot reported closing the start lever on the No. 2 engine, continue back to DAL, and performed an
uneventful single engine landing. No injuries were reported to any of the occupants. The flight
was an IFR flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121 from Dallas, Love Field, TX, to Little Rock
(LIT), AR.
Examination of the airplane revealed impact marks along the fuselage from about 10 feet aft of the
right-hand forward entry door to about 6 feet forward of the right-hand aft entry door and almost
along the entire length of right wing leading edge. The right horizontal stabilizer also exhibited
impact marks along almost the entire leading edge. None of impact marks were punctures through
fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed all the fan blades heavily damaged, all the fan blade
roots remained installed in the disk, several fan blades fractured near the platform. The forward
and rear spinner cones were no longer attached to the fan disk and a large penetration hole was
noted on the right hand side of the fan cowl just forward of the engine fan case. No breaches of
any of the engine cases or signs of fire damage were noted.”
Source: NTSB
View preliminary report: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=ENG08IA002&rpt=p
View pictures: http://blog.flightstory.net/437/follow-up-southwest-engine-failure/
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