Spherical particles are said to have contaminated fuel on Cathay Pacific A330 while flying from WARR to VHHH on April 13, 2010. Pretty good article.
"In a new preliminary report Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department (CAD) said, that the engine fuel components, relevant fuel samples and monitor filters in the vessel of the dispenser refueling the aircraft in Surabaya were collected and sent to the UK for analysis. Flight data and cockpit voice recorders were read out.
An examination of the engine fuel components showed, that the main metering valves (MMV) of the fuel metering units (FMU) were seized, the left at a position consistent with the 70% N1 of the left hand engine, the right hand at a position consistent with the 17% N1 achieved by the right hand engine. The right hand engine's variable stator vane controller (VSVC) was also found seized.
Fine spherical particles (spheres) were found in the FMU, VSVC and variable stator vane actuator (VSVA) of both engines. No fault has been observed to any component other than those associated with the contamination by spheres. The spheres could not be generated from within the airframe or engine systems under normal operating conditions and environment."From:
http://avherald.com/h?article=42a1000b/0001&opt=0Report:
http://www.cad.gov.hk/reports/AB-03-2010e.pdfBelow are a couple pics of the aircraft involved, Airbus A330-342B-HLL (cn 244).
#1 is the aircraft, Airbus A330-342 B-HLL (cn 244).
#2 is detail of the new #1 engine and left main gear after the incident.
