ATL84IA246

Factual narrative

DURING THE CLIMB-OUT, A 15% DECREASE IN THE RIGHT ENG EPR WAS NOTED BY THE FLT CREW. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG & FAILURE OF THE #2 ENG. THE #2 ENG WAS SHUT DOWN & THE ACFT WAS FLOWN BACK TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. AN INITIAL EXAM REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT ENG TOP COWLING HAD SEPARATED & THE LOWER SECTION OF THE COMBUSTION CASE WAS SPLIT. ENG REMOVAL & TEARDOWN REVEALED THE #5 FUEL NOZZLE NUT LOCK RING WAS MIS-ASSEMBLED. THIS DETRACTED FROM THE TORQUE ON THE FUEL NOZZLE NUT & INADEQUATELY COMPRESSED THE #5 FUEL NOZZLE SEAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FUEL NOZZLE LEAKED & ALLOWED LOCAL OVERTEMP OF THE OUTER COMBUSTION CHAMBER CASE AT THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12