Virgin Australia under investigation after engines ‘flame out’

Safety authorities are investigating a “serious” incident in which both engines of a Virgin Australia aircraft “flamed out” during a flight. 

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA ATR 72-600 VH-FVN (CN 1039)      File Photo

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating a worrying incident involving a Virgin Australia ATR 72-600 VH-FVN in which both engines on the regional turboprop aircraft “flamed out” while flying in rain on Monday.

The incident, which occurred near Canberra airport, involved flight VA 660 from Sydney to Canberra. “While the aircraft was descending through 11,000ft in heavy rain, the right engine’s power rolled back (decreased) and the engine flamed out.

“The engine automatically restarted within five seconds,” the ATSB said.

“The descent continued and, while passing through 10,000ft, the left engine’s power also rolled back and that engine flamed out before automatically relighting.”  (The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M turboprops.)

Luckily, the plane’s crew manually ignited the engines for the remainder of the flight and the landing.

The aircraft remained on the ground in Canberra for the following three days, before returning to service operating a flight to Sydney on Monday morning. 

The flight which is normally 45 minutes lasted 1 hour 27 according to the Flightradar24 website after holding and manoeuvring.  https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-fvn#1eda7123

The ATSB says it has begun the evidence collection phase of its investigation into the incident, and that it has downloaded the aircraft’s flight data recorder. Investigations typically take 12 months to be completed, but the safety investigator says that: “Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate action can be taken.”

VH-FVN was delivered new to Skywest Airlines, for operations on behalf of Virgin Australia, in September 2012 (a month before Virgin Australia announced its intention to acquire Skywest, which was subsequently renamed Virgin Australia Regional Airlines).