Final Report B737 (N772SW) northwest of Philadelphia USA, 14 Apr 2018

Final Report B737 (N772SW) northwest of Philadelphia USA, 14 Apr 2018

Publication info
Author
NTSB (USA)
Category
Airworthiness Loss of Control
Date of publication
19/11/2019

On 17 April 2018, sudden uncontained left engine failure occurred to a CFM56-7B powered Boeing 737-700 when climbing through approximately FL320. Consequent damage included a broken cabin window causing rapid decompression and a passenger fatality. Diversion to Philadelphia without further significant event then followed. A single fan blade was found to have failed due to undetected fatigue. The Investigation noted that the full consequences of blade failure had not been identified during engine / airframe type certification nor fully recognised during investigation of an identical blade failure event in 2016 which had occurred to another of the same operator’s 737-700s.

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