B788, London Heathrow UK, 2013

B788, London Heathrow UK, 2013

Summary

On 12 July 2013 an unoccupied and unpowered Boeing 787-8, remotely parked at London Heathrow after an arrival earlier the same day caught fire. An investigation found that the source of the fire was an uncontained thermal runaway in the lithium-metal battery within an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). Fifteen Safety Recommendations, all but one to the FAA, were made as a result of the Investigation.

Description

On 12 July 2013, a Boeing 787-8 (ET-AOP) being operated by Ethiopian Airways and remotely parked at London Heathrow caught fire whilst unoccupied and unpowered. After initial difficulties, the airport RFFS eventually succeeded in extinguishing the fire after almost half an hour. Damage sustained to the aircraft was limited but included externally visible evidence of structural damage to the composite fuselage.

An external view of the damaged fuselage adjacent to the vertical fin (reproduced from the Official Report)

Investigation

An independent investigation in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 principles and procedures was carried out by the UK AAIB. This action was taken on a discretionary basis in accordance with the nationally defined powers of the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents on the basis that although the fire occurred to an aircraft which was unoccupied, unpowered and parked out of service, the fire proved difficult to extinguish and it was suspected that it might be possible for an in-flight fire to occur by similar causation.

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