Salt Air Exposure Led To CRJ-1000 Engine Failure

Corrosion from prolonged exposure to salty air set the stage for a part to crack and trigger a recent inflight engine shutdown on a Bombardier CRJ-1000, an FAA airworthiness directive confirms. 

The Aug. 11 incident triggered an emergency FAA directive ordering inspections of GE CF34-8C and -8E compressor variable geometry (VG) parts on aircraft parked near coastlines for an extended period. Specifically, the order targeted any affected engine parked within 10 mi. of a salt-water coastline for at least 250 days during the previous 24 months.   

A new directive, set for publication Dec. 14, confirms that GE Aviation’s investigation identified the apparently rare combination of prolonged downtime and exposure to salty air as causal to the Aug. 11 event.

“These conditions caused corrosion to develop on the compressor VG actuator rod end bearing, which restricted the motion in the bearing leading to an elevated stress in the rod end,” the FAA said. “Subsequently, the higher stress cracked the rod end which eventually fractured.” 

The directive does not provide details on the incident, but it matches one involving a CRJ-1000 operated by Mel Air, a subsidiary of Air Nostrum. The aircraft, operating a positioning flight for an upcoming charter, was en route to Porto, Portugal from Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast, the Aviation Herald reported. The crew experienced an issue with the no. 2 engine, shut it down, and chose to divert to Lisbon.

The FAA’s updated directive mandates GE-recommended inspections detailed in a Nov. 2 service bulletin for aircraft with prolonged exposure to salty air. 

“This inspection requirement is consistent with existing GE recommendations to operators and reflects our proactive approach to safety management,” the company said in a statement.

Affected engines are found on Bombardier CRJ-700s, -900s, -1000 as well as Challenger 870 and 890 business jets and Embraer 170-series aircraft. However, the FAA estimates that only one U.S-registered aircraft has been exposed to salty air often enough to meet the inspection criteria. 

GE says it estimates the population of affected aircraft worldwide is fewer than 100.