Service difficulty report · Blade · Boeing 767322

Difficulty date
October 3, 2007
Submitted
October 5, 2007
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N670UA
Make and model
Boeing 767322
Aircraft serial
29240
Aircraft time
28,842 hours, 7,839 cycles
Engine
Pwa PW4052
Engine time
52,844 hours, 9,092 cycles
Part
Blade
Condition
Failed
Location
Compressor
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, J
Precautionary procedure
C

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

COMPRESSOR STALL ON TAKEOFF ROLL. CREW HEARD THREE LOUD POPS. ENGINE REPLACED. SHOP TEARDOWN REVEALED 1 BROKEN STAGE-6 VARIABLE STATOR VANE ARM. THE FRACTURE SURFACE WAS DIRTY, INDICATING THAT THE VANE ARM BROKE IN SERVICE, AND NOT AT DISASSEMBLY. THE BROKEN ARM RESULTED IN AN HPC BLADE TIP FRACTURE, AND SUBSEQUENT DOWNSTREAM HPC DAMAGE.