A CFM56-7B engine failure on Southwest Flight 1380 resulted in one airline passenger fatality and seven others injured on Tuesday, April 17. 149 people were aboard the twin-engine 737 New York to Dallas flight. After reaching about 30,000 feet, the left engine blew forcing Pilot Tammie Jo Shults to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia.
From takeoff to touchdown, the entire plane flight incident took 22 minutes.
Shaken passengers captured photos and video inflight and of the destructive aftermath. One such image shows the shattered window where the now deceased wife and mother of two, Jennifer Riordan sat. Others images include the missing metal skin of the engine and extensive damage inside the turbine.
A coroner confirmed Wednesday evening that Riordan died of blunt impact trauma of head, neck and torso. Her catastrophic injuries resulted after she was partially sucked out of the plane, despite wearing a seat belt.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is requesting that anyone else who took photo or video of the incident to please submit them to the agency at witness@ntsb.gov.
Recovery of Engine Pieces from Southwest Flight 1380
National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt held a briefing on Tuesday following the flight incident. Sumwalt stated that preliminary evidence indicated metal fatigue of one of 24 fan blades. Because of this, the blade separated in two places. It then escaped the casing initiating events that caused a secondary failure of the jet engine. The fuselage also had damage.
Part of the engine’s cowling had also ripped off, leaving it partially exposed. This recovered piece landed approximately 75 miles from the Philadelphia airport where the aircraft landed. Currently not recovered, the fan blade that broke off.
Another Instance of CFM-567B Engine Failure
In September 2016, the NTSB released initial investigative findings of a Southwest flight that had experienced an uncontained CFM-567B engine failure. The findings indicated signs of fan blade fatigue cracking.
In addition, the investigation revealed that the fuselage ended up punctured by broken engine pieces. But unlike tragic Flight 1380, the engine failure of Southwest Airlines Flight 3472 from New Orleans to Orlando did not result in any passenger deaths or casualties.
When Sumwalt asked about similarities between Flights 3472 and 1380, the chairman said it was to soon to draw parallels between the two incidents.
A year after NTSB’s released their findings about Flight 3472, the US Federal Aviation Administration published an airworthiness directive. Due to this by this rulemaking, airlines operating with certain CFM56-7B engine model numbers must use an ultrasound technique to inspect the fan blades of the listed models for fatigue crack growth.
Southwest announced it was accelerating inspections of CFM56-7B engines. The airline expects to complete inspections within 30 days.
The NTSB is in the process of reviewing whether the engine involved in Tuesday’s plane accident might have been subject to that directive.
Facts About the Failed Flight 1380’s CFM56-7B Engine
- CFM International manufacture the CFM56-7B engine.
- CFM International is a 50/50 joint venture between General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines.
- According to CFM International, over 8,000 CFM56-7B engines power Boeing 737 passenger jets.
- The failed engine of Flight 1380 had operated for 40,000 cycles, including 10,000 cycles since its last overhaul.
- The plane last received an inspection the Sunday prior to the plane accident.
Liability and Causation After a Plane Accident
There are three main parties generally held liable after a plane accident. These include the pilots, airlines and manufacturers of airplanes, parts and other components.
Pilots: pilots can be found liable for injuries and damages caused by a plane accident due to maintenance deficiencies, pilot error or other lapses.
Airlines: airlines face the same liabilities as pilots and more after a plane accident due to the heightened duties of care they are responsible for providing passengers.
Manufacturers: U.S. law can hold manufacturers and developers of defective airplanes, airplane parts and airplane components responsible for any resulting injuries or deaths caused by a defective product. Manufacturer liability is not just limited to defective designs or errors in the manufacturing process. It also includes any failure to properly warn about potential dangers related to use of a defective product.
Aviation accident lawyers have the knowledge and skills to make sure that justice is served for victims and surviving families member after a plane accident.
What Happens Next – Southwest Flight 1380
NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt said the full investigation will likely take 12 to 15 months to complete. As the engine in question was manufactured by the joint U.S.-French venture company CFM International, French accident investigators have joined the investigation to assist in determining cause. Safran Aircraft Engines, one of the co-producers of the engine in question, will also provide technical support.
Aside from the current investigations for Southwest Flight 1380 spearheaded by the NTSB, U.S. lawmakers called the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to hold hearings on aviation safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made additional statements regarding a new inspection plan for certain CFM56 engines. Estimated completion and release of the plan should take place within the next two weeks. As a collective, flight regulators want to reassure passengers that airlines remain a safe travel option.
Deepest Regrets and Sympathies for Flight 1380 Victims
As a personal injury law firm, our team has seen first-hand the devastating effects resulting from tragic accidents. Our deepest regrets and sympathies go out to Jennifer Riordan’s family. Additionally to the other passengers and crew of Southwest Flight 1380.
There were true heroes on that flight not only fighting to save the life of a mortally injured women. There were others that sought to comfort the scared and a pilot that safely landed a broken plane.