SYDNEY, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The Qantas A380 superjumbo jetliner that survived an engine explosion Nov. 4 after leaving Singapore was on the verge of disaster, an aviation expert said.
Preliminary reports indicate shrapnel from the Rolls Royce engine pierced a fuel pipe and just missed striking a wing fuel tank of the giant Airbus. Debris from the damaged engine tore through the wing, cut wiring looms, severed a main fuel pipe and punctured structural spars, ribs and wing service panels.
Adrian Mouritz, an aerospace and aviation engineering professor at RMIT University, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Qantas was "very, very lucky" thousands of gallons of jet fuel did not catch fire in the wings. "If that fuel ignited, that aircraft would have exploded," he said.
Qantas grounded its A380 aircraft after the incident and company CEO Alan Royce Thursday said as many as 40 Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines may have to be replaced on A380s in service worldwide.
The Sydney Morning Herald said Qantas had already replaced three engines on the quad-engine superjumbo jets and may decide to replace about 14 engines.
UPI
