Ural A320 at Karlovy Vary on May 13th 2014, engine failure

An Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration VQ-BDJ performing flight U6-740 from Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic) to Yekaterinburg (Russia) with 166 passengers and 8 crew, was in the initial climb out of Karlovy Vary's runway 29 when the crew reported a possible bird strike causing noticeable engine (CFM56) vibrations. The crew stopped the climb at FL100 and diverted to Prague (Czech Republic) for a safe landing about 30 minutes after departure.

The airline confirmed a bird strike caused engine vibrations. The aircraft is being assessed, a decision will be made whether the incident aircraft or a replacement aircraft is going to take the passengers to Yekaterinburg later the day.

On May 28th 2014 the French BEA reported in their weekly bulletin that after takeoff a left hand engine stall was suspected. Tower confirmed emission of flame from the exhaust of the left hand engine. The aircraft diverted to Prague.

Czech's UZPLN reported in their quarterly bulletin, that the left hand engine emitted two bursts of flame and two loud bangs. The left hand engine was shut down and the aircraft diverted to Prague. A runway inspection at Karlovy Vary did not reveal any evidence of a bird strike and found no debris from the aircraft. A post flight examination revealed the shaft of the left hand engine's flexible bleed valve had fractured in the 8 o'clock position.

The fractured shaft of the flexible bleed valve (Photo: UZPLN):