Foreign object damage (FOD) is the most potential ground-based cause that contributes to a catastrophic aviation failure [1], such as the well-known Concorde accident at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in the year 2000. FODs are mainly known as a hazardous event that can severely damage the airport, personnel and equipment [2]. Rajamuru et al. estimate the annual cost of FOD at about $1.2 billion [3].

FOD can be caused by different sources, such as weather and nature, airport infrastructures, airport workers and their auxiliary aircraft equipment.

In this study, several turbine blades of an aircraft low-pressure compressor were damaged due to FOD ingestion. Two possible damage sources were presumed. The first would be an external intake of some stones on the runway and the second would be an internal capture of small metallic elements of the engine itself.

A chemical analysis of the blades was performed using X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) equipment, confirming that the blade material corresponded to a Ti-6Al-4V alloy according to the UNE 38723:1981 standard.

A more detailed inspection was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to try to determine the nature of the FOD. This paper presents the complete study carried out to determine this FOD origin.

References

[1] D.C. Kraus, J. Watson, Guidelines for the Prevention and Elimination of Foreign Object Damage/Debris (FOD) in the Aviation Maintenance Environment through Improved Human performance (Federal Aviation Administration) 2001.

[2] FAA Airport Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Management (U.S Department of Transport), 2010.

[3] N. Rajamurugu; P. Karthikeyan; K. Ajithkumar: A. Imran Hussain; V. Vimalpraksh International Journal of Engineering Research Technology (IJERT), 2019, Volume 7, Issue 11, p 1-4.