Image Source ATSB

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a report which reveals that a defective pipe triggered a series of events that resulted in the mid air explosion on a Qantas jet in 2010.

Departing Singapore’s Changi airport on 04 November, QF3 bound for Sydney was in the air for 15 minutes before an explosion tore through the aircraft’s second engine, the Australian reported.

ATSB has just released a report stating that the manufacturing defect in the pipe caused an oil fire which kicked off a “sequence of events” and eventually resulted to engine failure.

"That defect resulted in fatigue cracking in the pipe, so that oil sprayed into an engine cavity where it ignited because of the high air temperature," the report read.

"As a result, the disc separated from its shaft, increased its rotation speed and broke into several parts."

Rolls-Royce spokesman Richard Hedges said that every time an incident occurs the aviation industry learns lessons.

"These are embedded in the rigorous safety procedures and standards of regulation which make flying an extraordinarily safe form of transport,” Mr Hedges said.

The report reported that Rolls Royce had already modified manufacturing procedures and risk assessment, and the investigation would check the process of those plans.

Fortunately, none of the 433 passengers and 26 crew members were injured during the incident.