Description

On 22 September 2021, a Boeing 787-9 (VH-ZNJ) being operated by Qantas Airways on a non-scheduled international cargo flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles completed an uneventful flight to its destination where it was discovered that tape covering four fan cowl static ports had not been removed before the aircraft departed. No safety-related consequences of this oversight were detected in flight but it was considered that an Investigation was required to establish such consequences and establish how the oversight had occurred to ensure repetition could be avoided.  

Investigation

An Investigation into the accident was carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Relevant data from the aircraft DAR was available in support of the Investigation. Information about the five pilots on board the flight was not recorded.

What Happened

The aircraft arrived at Melbourne from Los Angeles in the late afternoon of 20 September and was parked on Domestic Bay 11, where it remained until its planned departure to Los Angeles on the morning of 22 September. Qantas required that where an aircraft was on the ground for less than 72 hours, it was subject only to ‘normal’ parking procedures.