On 17 March 2017, uncommanded engine indications on a Saab 340B en route to Sydney were followed by vibration of the right engine after which, as the crew commenced right engine shutdown, its propeller assembly separated from the engine. A PAN was declared and the flight subsequently reached Sydney without further event. The Investigation found that the propeller gearbox shaft had fractured because of undetected internal fatigue cracking in the shaft. Applicable in-service shaft inspection procedures were found to be inadequate and mandatory enhancements to these procedures have since been introduced.
Description
On 17 March 2017, the crew of a Saab 340B (VH-NRX) being operated by Regional Express (Rex) on a domestic passenger flight from Albury to Sydney as RXA768 in day VMC were in the process of shutting down the malfunctioning right hand GE CT7-9B engine when its propeller detached from the engine approximately 10nm from destination. A PAN was declared to ATC and the flight was completed without further event.
The full content of this page is available to registered users only. Please Log in or Register