John Croft Washington

Boeing and CFM International are scrutinizing fuel supplies and the Honeywell-built fuel-control system in the CFM56-7B following a series of thrust-instability events on Boeing 737NG aircraft.

Their findings could have broader implications for the Jet A supply chain and fuel-testing regimen if contamination is behind the incidents. “We're doing a root-cause analysis, looking at the fuel-control unit and the entire fuel supply chain,” says Boeing. “The problem might be fuel-based.”

The instabilities, described as a fluctuation in N1 (low-pressure spool) and N2 (high-pressure spool) speeds, are occurring at high power settings, for example in climbing to cruise altitude, after which “engine operation typically returns to normal,” says Boeing.

There have been 32 thrust-instability events since the first was reported in January 2008, with 17 of the events in the Alaska Airlines fleet, according to Boeing. At least one incident has occurred at Southwest Airlines, based on a memo circulated to its pilots. However, two dual-engine instabilities occurred as recently as August and November 2012. “In one case [in 2012], both engines regained normal control and performance, and the airplane safely returned to base,” says Boeing. “In the other case, one engine's thrust did not respond properly, but the other engine fully recovered, and the airplane returned to base without further incident.”

Boeing further clarifies that in one of the dual-engine instabilities, both engines experienced a simultaneous “momentary oscillation,” while in the other, the engines experienced instabilities at different times during the flight.

“These events are rare and brief, and the level of overspeed is well within the demonstrated capability of the engine,” the company says. Boeing has not disclosed other airlines involved or geographical regions where the incidents have occurred. Mechanics in each case changed out the fuel control units of the engines, says Boeing.

The root-cause analysis has narrowed the issue down to fuel flow in Honeywell's hydromechanical unit (HMU), which regulates the amount of fuel delivered to the engine and is designed to handle a specified level of fuel contamination. Investigators are likely checking to see if contamination levels from a particular refinery are exceeding allowable limits. Sources of contamination can include water, particulates or biodegradation (which forms a gummy residue in the fuel), bacterial growth or overuse of biocide used to control bacterial growth.