Exclusive: checks to order after the explosion of the engine of the Airbus A380 2017

LONDON (Reuters) – Investigators who are investigating the explosion of an engine on an Air France A380 in 2017 are investigating a possible manufacturing defect, including a key element of a likely move. to trigger checks on dozens of Airbus superjumbos around the world, experts said.

A two-year-old investigation into the flight explosion over Greenland, which left the plane carrying more than 500 unmanned passengers to the front, was transferred to the "fan hub" ", recently saved, said the people. .

The titanium piece is the centerpiece of a 3-meter-wide fan on engines built for the world's largest US-based Engine Alliance airliner and owned by General Electric (GE.N) and United Technologies Pratt & Whitney (UTX.N)

He had been buried in the Greenland pack ice since September 2017 when one of the four engines of Flight 66 of Air France suddenly disintegrated between Paris and Los Angeles. It was enjoyed on the ice in June after a high-tech aerial radar search.

Following a microscopic analysis, Engine Alliance is expected to order airlines to check for similar engine defects, which supply about 60 percent of the 237 A380s in service, the company said.

The suspect piece was made under the auspices of Pratt & Whitney, who declined to comment.

The French air accident agency BEA, which directs the investigation, declined to comment.

Engine Alliance is one of two engine suppliers to the Airbus A380 in competition with the British British Rolls-Royce (RR.L)

In addition to Air France, other airlines operating the A380 and Engine Alliance include Emirates, Dubai Airways, Qatar Airways, Etihad, based in Abu Dhabi, and Korean Air.

It was not immediately clear what type of verification would be required, or whether it would involve putting aircraft out of service beyond their usual maintenance schedules.

According to the experts, the detection of metallurgical defects in the deepest titanium alloys used for such parts can be difficult.

The investigations are not yet complete and may take into account other factors such as the loads or physical forces involved on the engine and wing structure of the giant two-stage jet.

Security experts say that air accidents are rarely caused by isolated factors.

Airbus of Europe (AIR.PA) refused to comment.