Serbian A319 shed large engine panel during climb out of Belgrade

Serbian investigators have disclosed that an Airbus A319 shed a large engine panel while climbing out of Belgrade three weeks ago. Operated by Air Serbia, the aircraft (YU-APD) is fitted with International Aero Engines V2500 powerplants. Serbian traffic accident research centre CINS states that the aircraft had been conducting a flight from Belgrade to Budapest on 26 December. It had previously arrived from Copenhagen “without any problems”, the centre states, and the crew did not find any issues during a pre-flight inspection. Engine start was normal and the take-off proceeded without any indication of defects. But about 3min 30s after departure, at an altitude of 9,460ft, the crew “heard a loud and unusual sound” from the left-hand engine, says the centre, accompanied by cockpit indications of a problem with the powerplant. It adds that the crew ran a relevant checklist and opted to return to Belgrade, where the twinjet landed without further incident. Inspection of the aircraft found the left engine to have sustained damage to the inner structure of its thrust-reverser.<br/>