The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued an urgent safety recommendation due to a potential safety risk associated with the CFM International LEAP-1B engines used on Boeing 737 Max aircraft. According to the Board’s statement, a risk of smoke leakage from these engines could pose significant safety concerns in both the cockpit and passenger cabin.
This critical warning follows an incident in December 2023, when a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 aircraft sustained engine damage shortly after takeoff from New Orleans due to a bird strike. During the event, “sharp white smoke” filled the cockpit, prompting the crew to don oxygen masks and land the aircraft safely.
NTSB investigations revealed that a system called the load reduction device (LRD), designed to reduce vibrations from damaged engines, may inadvertently damage the engine’s oil system. This damage could cause hot oil to leak into the aircraft’s ventilation system, potentially allowing smoke to enter the cockpit or cabin.
A similar smoke-related incident occurred in March 2023 on another Southwest Airlines flight departing Havana. In that case, a bird strike to the right engine caused the cabin to fill with vapor.
Following these developments, the NTSB has recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) require operators to train flight crews on the potential smoke risk and appropriate mitigation procedures. Boeing has since revised its flight manuals to include new procedures aimed at preventing smoke ingress.
The Board also called on the FAA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to assess whether other LEAP engine variants—such as the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1C—pose similar risks. These variants are used on other aircraft models, including the Airbus A320neo.
Lastly, the NTSB recommended that regulators mandate the implementation of software updates developed by CFM and Boeing to address the issue.
Aero Haber You can follow X-Twitter account. Follow
