How the rain shut down an Airbus A220 engine

Transport Canada issued an airworthiness order late last week for Airbus A220 operators. This follows the problem with water falling into the Forward Avionics Bay. Operators of the A220 have 12 months. Otherwise, they will not be able to operate the A220 in Canada.

Water fell in the Forward Avionics Bay

According to Transport Canada, the A220 engine shutdown incident occurred while in service in a taxi. The date and location of the incident were not disclosed.

The investigation revealed that water had entered the avionics bay. This caused a short circuit, tripping the circuit breaker and causing the engine to shut down. When the main cabin entrance was opened it was found that water had entered during the rainstorm. The drains were overflowing, and water fell into the avionics bay.

As happened in this incident, it can lead to short circuiting, loss of air data resources, reduction of functional capabilities and increase of staff workload.

No changes required

The Air Compatibility Indicator A220 operators will need to install blank plates in some drains and block accessory drain pipes to prevent water from entering the avionics bay in the future. Operators will need to do this by removing the existing forward galley slotted drain covers and replacing them with solid blanking plates, blocking the access drain pipes.

Home base of the Canada Airbus A220 program with factory at Mirabell near Montreal. Mirabell’s A220 operations include program management, engineering, customer support and services, as well as the program’s main final assembly line.

Bombardier of Montreal handed over control of the A220 program to Airbus in 2018. Currently, Airbus Canada Limited owns a partnership A220 program, 75% Airbus, and 25% Quebec Government.

Changing fortunes for the A220 program

At a slow start, the A220 program runs forward after the Bombardier is sold out. According to Joanna Bailey in Simple flying, The new owners sold half the A220s a year in the year they had Bombardier in the previous decade.

Ms Bailey gives a lot to the Airbus brand and the halo effect it creates. She noted that the changing aviation environment was conducive to smaller, energy-efficient, regional jets such as the A220.

The A220 sold well and was popular with passengers and airlines. However, there were a few incidents. Number of engine problems, Mostly in Europe, saw the A220 in the headlines last year.

Earlier this year, the FAA issued its own gas directive for the A220 Four engine shutdown events. Engine shutdowns occurred after the failure of the low-pressure compressor.

Air Canada has a large investment in the A220

In Canada, the national airline Air Canada Operates eight A220-300s, the first delivered in late 2019. The airline has 45 orders. Air Canada has high expectations on the flight.

“We welcome this game-changing aircraft into our fleet, which is the next step in the modernization of our aircraft.”He said Michael Russo, Then Deputy CEO of Air Canada.

Air Canada will shortly discontinue its A220s to make the necessary changes to Transport Canada. Other airlines seeking to operate A220s in Canada, including Delta Airlines, must also comply with the AirWorthiness directive.