Lok Sabha Question No. 317 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Technical Snags in Aircraft
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: KAMAL NATH, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

*317.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTIONNO. : 317 (To be answered on the 23rd

March 2017)

## TECHNICAL SNAGS IN AIRCRAFT

## SHRI KAMAL NATH SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M SCINDIA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIA TION

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (2) whether the Government/ Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken note of aircraft of various airlines frequently technical snags; facing
2. (c) whether technological solution has been found out to reduce such glitches and if sO, the details thereof;
3. (b)if s0, the details %f such airlines and technical snags reported during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
4. (9 whether DGCA has since initiated borescope examination/probes of the A320 neo aircraft that have faced technical snags; and
5. (e) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

(Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the house.

Statement referred in reply to Part () to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Ques No 317 regarding "Technical in Aircraft" to be answered on 23.03.2017. Snags

- (a) & (b) Technical snags are to occur normal course of rectification of the technical snags observed/ reported. The details of observed/ reported snags airline-wise and year-wise for the last three years and the current year is attached as Annexure-A likely during
- (d) & (e) DGCA vide letter no. 78/2/2017-AI (2) dated 10/02/2017 has issued instructions to carry out boroscope inspection on PWIIOOG-JM engines installed on Airbus A320 Neo aircraft operated by MIs unscheduled removal of engines due to deterioration in the combustion chamber %f the engines Consequent to above the engine manufacturer MIs Pratt ind Whitney had issued instructions for conduct 0f boroscopic inspection at the interval of 1500 hours However during the analysis 0f the engine history it was observed that some of the engines have developed deterioration in the combustion chamber below the interval prescribed by the manufacturer. Based on above analysis, DGCA has issued these instructions to monitor the condition Of engine after every 1000 hours of flying by Indigo and MIs Go Air to carry out one time boroscopic inspection of engines fitted on their A-320 Neo aircraft which have flown for 1000 hours to ensure safety of aircraft operations Indigo
- (c) During the course 0f operation when technical snags persist; necessary solutions are provided by the manufacturers from time to time in the form 0f Service Bulletins/ Service Instructions in respect of aircraftl engine/ components\_

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Details of technical snags reported by schedule airlines the last three year and the current year, year- wise: during

| Year         | 2014   |   2015 |   2016 |   2017 (Till Feb) |
|--------------|--------|--------|--------|-------------------|
| No. of snags |        |  17483 |  21505 |              3620 |

Defect (Snag): means a condition existing in an aircraft  (including its  systems) or  aircraft component arising from any\_cause other than damage, which would preclude it or another aircraft  component from performing their intended functions or would reduce the expected service life of the aircraft or aircraft component:

The common snags in the aircraft and its system are

- 1) Fires during flight;
- 3) an engine exhaust   system that causes damage   during flight to the   engine, adjacent structure, equipment or components;
- 2) fires during flight not protected a related fire warning system; by
- 4) engine shutdown flight  with external damage to the engine or  aircraft  structure occurs; during
- 5) defect to an aircraft component that causes accumulation or circulation of smoke,; vapour; Or toxic or noxious fumes in the crew compartment or passenger cabin flight; during
- 7) false fire warnings during flight;
- 6) other defect requiring extensive repair/ inspection/ modification to the aircraft (orland in cases as desired by local DAW office). Any
- 8) engine shutdown flight because of flame- out; during
- 10) shutdown flight of more than one engine; during
- 9) engine shutdown flight due to foreign object ingestion or during icing;
- 11) defect of a propeller feathering system or ability of the system to control over-speed flight; during
- 13) defect related to landing gear extension or retraction, or opening or closing of landing gear doors during flight;
- 12) Defect of a fuel or fuel-dumping system that affects fuel flow or causes hazardous leakage during flight;
- 14) brake system components that result in loss of brake actuating force when the aircraft is in motion on the ground;
- 16) damage of aircraft components or systems that result in emergency actions during flight (except action to shut down an engine); taking
- 15) cracks, permanent deformation, or corrosion of aircraft structure; if more than the maximum acceptable to the manufacturer or the DGCA;
- 17) each interruption to a flight unscheduled change of aircraft en route, or unscheduled or diversion from a route, caused by known or suspected mechanical   difficulties or malfunction stop

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