Created Thursday, Jun 13th 2024 15:56Z, last updated Friday, Jan 17th 2025 12:41Z
A Smartlynx Airlines Malta Boeing 737-8 MAX on behalf of TUI Airways, registration 9H-ETA performing flight TOM-213 from Dalaman (Turkey) to Manchester,EN (UK) with 189 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Dalaman's runway 19 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 110 knots over ground) due to a problem. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron.
The aircraft had taxied out for departure about 20 minutes earlier but needed to return to the stand. The flight was ultimately cancelled.
A passenger reported the captain announced a light indicating a malfunction had come on, they would be trying to reset the indication. The aircraft subsequently taxied out again when a loud bang from an engine (LEAP) occurred, the aircraft slowed from high speed. They subsequently needed to unexpectedly stay in hotels for two nights.
The airline reported the flight was scheduled to depart on Jun 8th 2024, however, the crew ran out of duty hours, therefore the flight needed to be postponed to the next day. The aircraft subsequently needed to reject takeoff, so that the flight was able to depart finally on Jun 10th.
A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration G-TAWX reached Manchester with a delay of about 40 hours.
The occurrence aircraft was able to position to Manchester on Jun 11th 2024 and resumed service the following day.
On Jun 17th 2024 The Aviation Herald learned, that the crew announced an airspeed disagree indication after coming to a stop on the runway following the rejected takeoff.
On Jan 17th 2025 The Aviation Herald received further information stating, that the aircraft had overnighted in Dalaman. During start of the left engine the following day the crew observed Master Caution, Autothrottle disengage, takeoff speeds deleted, IAS disagree on both PFDs, both EECs were in alternate mode. Maintenance tested and reset the EECs, subsequently two engine starts occurred without any fault and the aircraft was declared airworthy. About 4 hours later takeoff commenced, at about 80 KIAS the takeoff speeds were removed, autothrottle disconnected with red announciator flashing, in addition the IAS indications disagreed (about 110 KIAS on captain side, 80 KIAS on first officer side). Subsequently maintenance flushed the pitot probes and found an insect in one of the probes feeding both the engine electronic control as well as IAS indication. The theory was developed that during first engine start that insect was burned due to pitot auto heat removing the effects temporarily, but subsequently during takeoff acceleration again affected both EEC and IAS indications.
