February 2021 Boeing 777 engine failure over Broomfield, Colorado
United Airlines Flight 328
N772UA, the aircraft involved in 2012
Incident
Date
February 20, 2021 13:08 MST (2021-02-20UTC20:08Z)[1]
Summary
Engine failure caused by metal fatigue
Site
Over Broomfield, Colorado, U.S. 39°55′44″N105°03′18″W / 39.929°N 105.055°W / 39.929; -105.055
Aircraft
Aircraft type
Boeing 777-222[a]
Operator
United Airlines
IATA flight No.
UA328
ICAO flight No.
UAL328
Call sign
UNITED 328
Registration
N772UA
Flight origin
Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado, United States
Destination
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Occupants
241
Passengers
231
Crew
10
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Survivors
241
Flight path of United Airlines Flight 328
On February 20, 2021, United Airlines Flight 328 (UA328/UAL328), a scheduled U.S. domestic passenger flight from Denver to Honolulu, suffered what was technically ruled a contained engine failure[2] despite shedding large pieces of debris, approximately four minutes after takeoff from Denver International Airport (DEN).[1][3] Parts departing from the engine cowling of the Boeing 777-222[a] aircraft resulted in a debris field at least 1 mile (1.6 km) long over suburban residential areas of Broomfield, Colorado.[4][5][6][7] Falling debris was recorded by eyewitnesses using smartphone cameras and a dash cam.[8][9] Debris fell through the roof of a private home[4] and significantly damaged a parked vehicle.[10]
The engine failure resulted in an in-flight engine fire, extensive damage to the engine nacelle, and minor damage to the fuselage.[11] Passengers also recorded video of the engine nacelle damage and in-flight fire and posted these to social media. The failed engine was a Pratt & Whitney (P&W) model PW4077 turbofan.[12]
The crew secured the failed engine, and the aircraft returned to Denver using the remaining working engine, landing without further incident 24 minutes after takeoff at 13:28 local time.[1][13][14] There were no reported injuries to persons onboard or on the ground. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board immediately began investigating.
Similar 777-200 series aircraft were quickly grounded by several national aviation authorities, including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive requiring U.S. operators of airplanes equipped with similar Pratt & Whitney PW4000-112 series engines to inspect these engines' fan blades before further flight.[11] Japan Air Lines, which had a similar incident in December 2020, retired all of its P&W-equipped Boeing 777-200s a year earlier than planned in March 2021. United Airlines, which also had a similar incident in 2018, grounded their Pratt & Whitney powered 777-200s from early to mid 2021 until July 2022 (with the exception of the accident aircraft.)
^ abcPetchenik, Ian (February 21, 2021). "United UA328 suffers engine failure departing Denver". FlightRadar24. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
^Gilbertson, Dawn (February 22, 2021). "United Airlines engine failure on Boeing 777 flight from Colorado: What travelers need to know". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^"Investigative Update: United Airlines Flight 328 Boeing 777 Engine Incident". www.ntsb.gov. National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
^ ab"Broomfield park-goers recount seeing debris fall from United Airlines plane Saturday". Boulder Daily Camera. February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
^Knowles, Hannah (February 21, 2021). "United flight's engine failure rained debris at least a mile wide near Denver, officials say". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
^"Debris from United Airlines Boeing 777 falls on Broomfield neighborhoods; flight lands safely at DIA". KMGH. February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
^Chavira, Danielle (February 20, 2021). "Plane Debris Falls From Sky & Onto Broomfield Neighborhoods". CBS Denver. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
^"US plane scatters engine debris over Denver homes". BBC News. February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
^Silverman, Hollie; Andone, Dakin; Williams, David (February 20, 2021). "United Airlines flight suffers engine failure, sending debris falling on neighborhoods outside Denver". CNN. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
^McCue, Conor (February 23, 2021). "Insurance Expert Weighs In On Damage United Airlines Flight 328: 'Objects Falling From The Sky Are Covered'". CBS Denver – News, Weather & Sports For All Of Colorado. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
^ ab"FAA Statement on Pratt & Whitney Engine Emergency Airworthiness Directive". Federal Aviation Administration. February 24, 2021.
^Ranter, Harro. "Incident Boeing 777-222 N772UA, 20 Feb 2021". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
^"United Airlines plane with exploded engine drops debris over Denver area before emergency landing". The Colorado Sun. February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
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