Electronic cigarette battery Fires On / In Airfcraft

[Guest]

No blame in this for WestJet and that is how it should be. 

Investigation report: Baggage compartment fire on WestJet flight 113, June 2018 Français

 

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News provided by

Transportation Safety Board of Canada

Jan 18, 2019, 12:00 ET

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EDMONTON, Jan. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report (A18W0081) following a baggage compartment fire that occurred on WestJet flight 113 on 14 June 2018, shortly after the aircraft departed Calgary International Airport, Alberta.

The TSB conducted a limited-scope, fact-gathering investigation into this occurrence to advance transportation safety through greater awareness of potential safety issues.

This report highlights the hazard that lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in electronic cigarettes, pose to the safety of aircraft when stored in checked baggage. Passengers are reminded that these items must be carried in the cabin, where an incident can be immediately mitigated, and not in checked baggage.

Aviation Investigation A18W0081

Table of contents

• Investigation brief
• Media materials

Baggage compartment fire

The occurrence

On 14 June 2018, a Boeing 737-700 aircraft operated by WestJet was conducting flight WJA113 from Calgary, Alberta, to Vancouver, British Columbia, with 53 passengers and 5 crew members on board. While climbing through 9000 feet after departure, the flight crew received a cargo fire warning. An emergency was declared and a return to Calgary was requested. After landing, the cargo hold was inspected and evidence was found of a fire in a passenger bag.

Map of the area

 

Investigator-in-charge

Mike Adam joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) in early 2014, bringing with him extensive experience in aviation line maintenance and quality assurance for transport category air carriers. Mr. Adam also has experience with various single and twin engine aircraft, both piston and turbine powered, as well as amateur-built aircraft.

 

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Transportation Safety Board investigation process

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation:

1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

For more information, see our Investigation process page.

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Investigation report

2019-01-18

Air Transportation Safety Investigation Report A18W0081

About the investigation

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) conducted a limited-scope, fact-gathering investigation into this occurrence to advance transportation safety through greater awareness of potential safety issues. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

 

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Baggage compartment fire
WestJet
Boeing 737-700, C-GWJT
Calgary, Alberta
14 June 2018

Le présent rapport est également disponible en français.

History of the flight

The Boeing 737-700 (registration C-GWJT, serial number 40338), operated by WestJet as flight 113 (WJA113), was on a day instrument flight rules flight from Calgary International Airport (CYYC), Alberta, to Vancouver International Airport (CYVR), British Columbia, with 2 flight crew members, 3 cabin crew members, and 53 passengers on board. The aircraft departed from Runway 35L at CYYC at approximately 0639.^{Footnote 1} The captain was the pilot flying, and the first officer was the pilot monitoring.

While the aircraft was climbing through 9000 feet above sea level, at 0641:10, a lower aft cargo fire warning light illuminated. The flight crew immediately followed the CARGO FIRE procedures published in the company's 737NG Quick Reference Handbook (QRH). The CARGO FIRE DISCH switch was activated, and 1 cargo fire extinguishing bottle was discharged.

At 0646, the flight crew declared a MAYDAY emergency and initiated a return to CYYC. Ten minutes later, the aircraft landed on Runway 35R at CYYC and exited onto Taxiway Delta. After clearing the active runway, the aircraft stopped on the taxiway and was inspected by airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) services. No visual signs of fire were noted, and no hot spots were detected by infrared camera imaging.

In accordance with the QRH, the flight crew informed ground personnel not to open any cargo doors until all passengers and crew had exited the aircraft.^{Footnote 2} The aircraft was cleared to taxi back to the gate, where the passengers and crew were deplaned. After all passengers were off the aircraft, ARFF and WestJet ground handling personnel opened the lower aft baggage compartment.

One passenger bag, found face-down near the cargo compartment door opening, showed signs of fire damage (Figure 1).

 

Figure 1. Passenger bag showing fire damage

 

Cargo hold damage

The fire damage was isolated to the individual bag. Minor thermal damage was found to the cargo compartment's fire-resistant liner near the bag. The fire did not penetrate the cargo liner or aluminum floor structure and was contained to an area of approximately 24 inches by 24 inches (Figure 2). There was no additional damage to any of the surrounding bags. The burnt bag was offloaded and segregated, and then all other passenger baggage were offloaded.

 

Figure 2. Fire damage to lower aft cargo compartment

 

Cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder

As per regulations, the aircraft was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, which were removed and sent to the TSB Engineering Laboratory in Ottawa, Ontario. The data indicated that, other than the lower aft cargo fire warning, the crew did not receive any additional warnings or alarms. The crew's actions were carried out in accordance with the QRH and company standard operating procedures.

Aircraft information

Records indicate that the aircraft was certified, equipped, and maintained in accordance with existing regulations and approved procedures. The Boeing 737-700 (also referred to as 737-7CT) was manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in 2011. It is a twin-engine, medium-range, turbofan airliner with 140 passenger seats and a cruise speed of about 430 knots.

Passenger bag

The passenger whose bag caught fire flew frequently for business purposes and was aware of WestJet's policies with respect to restricted items in checked baggage. The passenger packed his bag, a tactical-style nylon backpack, on the evening of 13 June 2018 and inadvertently packed 2 spare lithium-ion batteries for his e-cigarette,^{Footnote 3} in the charger, in the front pocket of the bag. The pocket also contained a dry herb vaporizer, a portable speaker, and USB cables.

On the morning of 14 June 2018, the passenger arrived at the airport and checked his bag in. He took his e-cigarette and 2 other lithium-ion batteries into the passenger cabin, as required by WestJet's policy on e-cigarettes.^{Footnote 4,Footnote 5}

The checked bag proceeded through the passenger baggage security screening and was loaded into the aircraft's lower aft baggage compartment, while still containing the 2 spare lithium-ion batteries.

Restricted items

Air carriers in Canada are responsible for complying with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) with respect to checked baggage. In February 2016, Transport Canada issued a Transportation of Dangerous Goods Safety Advisory^{Footnote 6} alerting air operators, passengers and crew of the safety risks associated with e-cigarettes and recommended that e-cigarettes, including any associated lithium-ion batteries, only be carried in the cabin.

The information on WestJet's website relating to restricted items states that e-cigarettes, including associated lithium-ion batteries, “Must be carried in carry-on baggage only,”^{Footnote 7} and operator approval is required. The website details the restrictions as follows:

E-Cigarettes.

• E-Cigarettes are permitted in carry-on baggage but not for use on board the aircraft due to the high temperatures they generate.
• Batteries must be removed to eliminate the risk of unintentional activation and individually protected so as to prevent short circuits.^{Footnote 8}

To protect batteries, exposed terminals can be taped over, each individual battery can be in a protective pouch or separate plastic bag, or batteries can be in their original retail packaging.

Checked-baggage screening

All passenger baggage is subject to security screening, which is conducted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). However, this screening is designed to detect explosive materials that are a threat to aviation safety rather than batteries and other dangerous goods.

CATSA's checked-baggage screening machines do not automatically detect dangerous goods; however, if possible dangerous goods are discovered during the screening process, CATSA will perform additional checks and follow up with air carriers. For example, if CATSA screening officers are presented with an X-ray image of a container that could contain dangerous goods, they are required to send the bag for a physical search. If a dangerous good is discovered during the search, CATSA requires the screening officers to inform an air carrier representative, who will determine if the goods can be transported on the aircraft.

Lithium-ion battery

The proliferation of lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices has resulted in an increase in aviation cargo and passenger baggage events involving smoke, fire, extreme heat, or explosion. As at 02 May 2018, the United States Federal Aviation Administration has recorded 206 air/airport incidents involving lithium-ion batteries carried as cargo or baggage since 20 March 1991.^{Footnote 9}

The TSB Engineering Laboratory conducted an analysis of the lithium batteries and electrical components contained in the passenger baggage.^{Footnote 10}

The engineering report concluded that 1 battery in the charger experienced a thermal runaway and the interior material of the battery was completely burnt out. The thermal runaway was likely caused by external damage. The investigation could not determine if the damage occurred before the battery arrived at the airport or during baggage handling.

Safety messages

Lithium-ion batteries are subject to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations. Transport Canada's safety advisory on the transportation of electronic cigarettes on aircraft exists to prevent the transportation of lithium-ion batteries in checked baggage, which can pose a hazard to the safety of aircraft.

In this occurrence, even though the passenger was aware of the restrictions on lithium-ion batteries, the checked baggage was not identified as containing dangerous goods before being loaded into the cargo hold. When this type of responsibility is shared among passengers, air carriers, and security screening authorities, no one agency or individual is in a position to ensure that the contents of baggage comply with an air carrier's requirements related to restricted items.

This concludes the TSB's limited-scope investigation into this occurrence. The Board authorized the release of this investigation report on 28 December 2018. It was officially released on 18 January 2019.

Footnotes

Footnote 1

All times are Mountain Daylight Time (Coordinated Universal Time minus 6 hours).

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

WestJet, 737NG Flight Operations Manual: 737NG Quick Reference Handbook, Revision 3 (31 August 2017), p. 8.11.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

E-cigarettes comprise a lithium-ion battery, an electronic cigarette cartridge, and an atomizer.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

WestJet, “Guest Information About Baggage and Carry-on: Heat Producing Items,” at http://www.channelgroup.org/wjpassengers/ (last accessed on 15 January 2019).

Return to footnote 4 referrer

Footnote 5

WestJet's policy on e-cigarettes complies with Transport Canada's Transportation of Dangerous Goods Safety Advisory: Fire Risk of Electronic Cigarettes in Checked Baggage on Board an Aircraft (February 2016), at https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/publications-alerts-menu-1223.html (last accessed on 15 January 2019).

Return to footnote 5 referrer

Footnote 6

Transport Canada, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Safety Advisory: Fire Risk of Electronic Cigarettes in Checked Baggage on Board an Aircraft (February 2016).

Return to footnote 6 referrer

Footnote 7

Ibid.

Return to footnote 7 referrer

Footnote 8

WestJet, “Guest Information About Baggage and Carry-on: Heat Producing Items,” at http://www.channelgroup.org/wjpassengers/ (last accessed on 15 January 2019).

Return to footnote 8 referrer

Footnote 9

Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Security and Hazardous Materials Safety, Lithium Batteries & Lithium Battery-Powered Devices (February 2018).

Return to footnote 9 referrer

Footnote 10

TSB Laboratory Report LP152/2018 – Baggage and Electrical Components Analysis.

 

[Critter]

And they say e-cigarettes are better for your health

[Guest]

• E-cigarette batteries ignite luggage prior to Air Transat flight

E-cigarette batteries ignite luggage prior to Air Transat flight

• 22 January, 2019
• SOURCE: Flight Dashboard
• BY: Jon Hemmerdinger
• Boston

Electronic cigarette batteries have caused another baggage fire involving a Canadian airliner, news that comes days after Canadian investigators determined that similar batteries caused an inflight fire in 2018.

The latest fire involved Air Transat flight 443, on an Airbus A321 operating from Cancun to Vancouver on 12 January.

During the baggage loading process in Cancun, "brown smoke could be seen coming" from one piece of luggage, according to a preliminary aviation incident report released by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada. The fire burned through the luggage, it adds."The suitcase was taken away from the gate area and sprayed with a portable fire extinguisher," says the report. "It was determined that the fire and smoke was caused by electronic cigarette batteries that were overheating."

Air Transat did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The incident did not cause injuries, but it punctuates a risk the TSB highlighted last week in a report into the cause of a June 2018 fire involving a WestJet Boeing 737-700.

That aircraft was operating WestJet flight 113 from Calgary to Vancouver when the crew received an aft cargo fire warning light while climbing through 9,000ft, the TSB's 18 January report says.

The crew discharged fire extinguishers and safely made an emergency return to Calgary, where ground workers discovered a scorched bag in the cargo hold.

The passenger who owned the bag "inadvertently packed two spare lithium-ion batteries for his e-cigarette", the TSB says. "One battery in the charger experienced a thermal runaway."

The WestJet incident "highlights the hazard that lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in electronic cigarettes, pose to the safety of aircraft when stored in checked baggage," it adds.

Transport Canada in 2016 recommended that e-cigarettes and their batteries be carried only in passenger cabins of commercial aircraft, where crew can better ensure fires are extinguished.

The US Federal Aviation Administration bans electronic cigarettes from being carried in checked baggage