[Andrew P]

an update

A Cathay Pacific aircraft forced to make an emergency landing in Hong Kong used Indonesian- supplied fuel that was contaminated, according to investigators.

Fine spherical particles were found in the engine fuel components, the engine fuel system and aircraft fuel tanks, according to a bulletin yesterday from the Accident Investigation Division of the Civil Aviation Department.

"Examination and analysis indicated that those spheres could not have been generated from within the aircraft airframe or engine systems under normal operating conditions and environment," the bulletin said.

Cathay Flight 780 had pumped 24,400 kilograms of fuel at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, Indonesia, before taking off for Hong Kong, the report said.

Before the Cathay incident, there had been extension work performed to the hydrant refueling circuit as part of Juanda airport's apron extension project. A subsequent investigation at the Indonesian airport found that some of the recommissioning procedures were not in line with industry guidelines and practices.

The hydrant refueling system was used for the Cathay aircraft before the completion of the recommissioning procedures, the report said. Flight CX780 declared a Mayday on approaching Hong Kong International Airport on April 13, with one engine stalled and the other with only 70 percent power.

The emergency landing injured 57 passengers, 10 of whom were sent to hospitals. Six tires were blown out.

The report recommended that Juanda airport authorities conduct an extensive review of the re- commissioning procedures and ensure the procedures are completed before resuming hydrant refueling at the airport.

The investigation aims to identify the cause of the loss of thrust control which led to the emergency landing of the Airbus SAS A330.

The second bulletin issued yesterday came three months after the investigation team issued its preliminary report in May. Cathay Pacific said in a separate statement no faults were found with the aircraft or engine control systems.

The Civil Aviation Department, in conjunction with the Air Accident Investigation Branch of the United Kingdom, the French civil aviation safety bureau and the US National Transportation Safety Board, will continue the investigation with the support of Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific Airways