B744F, vicinity Maastricht Netherlands, 2021

B744F, vicinity Maastricht Netherlands, 2021

Summary

On 20 February 2021, a Boeing 747-400BCF engine catastrophically failed as it passed 800 feet agl after takeoff from Maastricht and an uneventful diversion to Liege followed. It was subsequently found that debris ejected from the failed engine had resulted in injury to persons and property damage on the ground. Engine failure was attributed to a previous operator of the aircraft’s failure to incorporate an optional Service Bulletin during routine maintenance and the absence of a review of this decision by the current operator. The absence of any risk assessment for third parties below a regular flight path was noted.

Description

On 20 February 2021, a sudden engine failure soon after takeoff in day VMC on a Boeing 747-400BCF (VQ-BWT) being operated by Longtail Aviation on a scheduled international cargo flight from Maastricht to New York JFK as LGT5504 resulted in debris being ejected onto persons and property below. After fuel dumping, the flight diverted to Liege due to the longer runway available there without further event and arrived there an hour after taking off from Maastricht. It was subsequently found that impact from ejected engine debris had caused a serious injury to one person on the ground and a one minor injury to another as well as property damage.

B733 vic Maastricht 2021 eng fail photo

A view of the engine failure occurring taken from the airport. [Reproduced from the Official Report]

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