Jet engines found with damaged, missing parts

Safety officials urge FAA to take 'immediate action', order more inspections

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updated 6:48 p.m. ET Oct. 16, 2008

WASHINGTON - Federal safety officials have found several passenger aircraft engines with damaged and missing parts and urged the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday to order inspections of all similar engines.

The engines are a commonly used model made by Pratt & Whitney and are on a large number of Boeing 757 planes.

The problems were cited by the National Transportation Safety Board in a letter urging the Federal Aviation Administration to order inspections of the engines.

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"Information gathered to date has raised serious concerns that warrant immediate action by the FAA," the safety board wrote Robert Sturgell, the FAA's acting administrator.

The safety board began examining the Pratt & Whitney engines after a Delta Air Lines flight experienced a loss of power early in a takeoff attempt from Las Vegas, Nevada, in early August. The pilot slowed the aircraft and returned to the parking area. There were no reported injuries.

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FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the agency was aware of the problem and was working with Pratt & Whitney. No decision has been made about whether to order inspections of all PW2037 engines, the type involved in the Las Vegas incident.

Jennifer Whitlow, a spokeswoman for Pratt & Whitney, said the company is "involved in the investigation and we are fully cooperating with the NTSB and Delta Air Lines."

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