Boeing 747-400F (747-409F)

China Airlines cargo flight CI5265 was climbing out of Anchorage for Taipei-Taoyuan with four crew when, at about 5,500 feet, the fire warning for the No. 3 engine sounded. The crew discharged a fire bottle and shut the engine down. During the shutdown, AC electrical bus No. 3 dropped off line, disengaging the left autopilot and taking out several instruments on the captain’s side; the pilots engaged the centre autopilot and declared a Mayday. Air traffic control sent them to a holding pattern to dump fuel, but the fuel jettison system failed, so the 747 had to stay in the hold burning fuel until it was below its maximum landing weight. It landed without further incident at Anchorage about two hours after take-off. Nobody was hurt and the aircraft suffered minor damage.

The NTSB is investigating with the participation of the FAA, GE Aerospace, Boeing and Taiwan’s Transportation Safety Board. Its inspection found fire damage to the lower part of the engine cowling and signs of an under-cowl fire on the engine’s left side. A nitrogen pressure check revealed a crack in the inboard fuel manifold tube next to fuel nozzle No. 24. The engine, a GE CF6-80C2, was removed and sent to an overhaul shop for examination.