How do you analyze and learn from engine system failure incidents and reports?

As you or the crew become aware of a potential malfunction, don’t rush into action. Take a breath, communicate with your crew. Describe what you’re seeing, feeling, smelling etc…Get all available minds involved. With that being said, be directive as to whom is in control of the aircraft. That person needs to fly, navigate and communicate. Once you’ve “forced” yourself not to jump into action it’s time to evaluate and take precise action. The last thing you want to do is make the malfunction worse. Take initial actions if need be to make sure the aircraft is safe enough to fly. With the flight manual’s, CRM and (hopefully the never ending studying you have invested) Start taking care of the more pressing issues. WORK THE PROBLEM!

A serious problem is many runways are not being regularly maintained. FOD is one of the highest risks causing engine failure. The solution is more aggressive FOD maintenance and management.

Engine failures in aviation offer a chance to learn and improve safety. Here's how 'data analysis' can unlock valuable insights: 'Gather Everything'. Collect data from flight recorders, maintenance logs, and even weather reports to paint a complete picture of the incident. 'Visualize the Story'. Charts and graphs help identify trends and patterns in engine performance data leading up to the failure. 'Find the "deviation". Anomaly detection algorithms pinpoint data points that deviate from normal engine behavior, potentially revealing early warning signs. 'Root Cause Analysis'. Combine data analysis with human expertise to identify the root cause of the failure, focusing on both technical and systemic factors. 'Learn and Prevent!'.

In the midst of recovering back the engine (and aircraft) it's important to take time and understand the failure mode. Take note of the crew report, look back at the engine data/parameters during said incident and start working from there in both trying to rectify the fault and finding the failure mode. Most of the time the manuals gives clear instructions to follow in finding the fault and rectifying it.

Work closely with the OEM when trying to determine the root cause. They will have deep engineering knowledge of the hardware and will have more information in working through the root cause

Collect data overtime to see what are the most common types of engine failures (and failure modes). Some may not occur often but the consequences are bigger (in-flight shutdown etc), while others happen often but the consequences are of lower weightage (flight delays or a return to bay). Prioritize their importance on the impact it does to operation while taking into account other factors such as manpower, tools and equipment, ground time and also cost - while always keeping safety at the top.

The updated database should inform ongoing training and procedural revisions, ensuring that personnel are equipped with the latest knowledge and techniques to prevent and respond to engine system failures. Continuous learning from past incidents is essential for maintaining high safety standards. After updating our database with findings from an incident involving a sensor failure, we revised our training programmes to include specific modules on the new failure modes identified. Maintenance crews were trained on the updated procedures, which included enhanced inspection protocols and troubleshooting techniques. This training ensured that our teams were better prepared to detect and address similar issues in the future.