GEnx Engine Failed On Pre-Flight Test Saturday At Charleston International Airport

The NTSB has gotten involved in an investigation stemming from the failure of a GEnx engine hung on a Boeing Dreamliner being prepared for delivery to Air India. Debris reportedly fell from the engine during a pre-flight test Saturday sparking a grass fire at Charleston International Airport in South Carolina. Boeing and General Electric, the engine's manufacturer, are both involved in the investigation.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the investigation is focusing on the rear components of the engine's turbine section, as a source who wished to remain anonymous said there was no apparent damage to the forward compressor fan on the powerplant. He also said there was no indication of foreign object damage to the engine.

GE spokesman Rick Kennedy would only confirm that debris was ejected from the rear of the engine. The entire engine was being sent to a company facility for analysis.

Boeing said that they had no reason to believe that there would be any operational issue with Dreamliners already in service with JAL, which is the only airline flying the 787 with the GEnx engine. The airport was closed for a little over an hour while crew put out the fire caused by the incident.

Last week, several ANA Dreamliners equipped with Rolls-Royce PLC Trent 1000 engines were temporarily grounded after corrosion was found in some gearbox components. Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said those airplanes would be returned to operations status this week.

FMI: www.ge.com, www.boeing.com, www.rolls-royce.com