REX SF34 at Dubbo on Mar 23rd 2017, engine shut down in flight
Last Update: September 18, 2017 / 13:45:44 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Mar 23, 2017
Classification
Incident
Airline
REX Regional Express
Flight number
ZL-821
Departure
Dubbo, Australia
Destination
Sydney, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-RXS
Aircraft Type
SAAB 340
ICAO Type Designator
SF34
Passengers reported the engine emitted a bang and streaks of flame.
The ATSB reported the crew observed unusual indications and vibrations from the right hand engine, shut the engine down and returned to Dubbo. The occurrence was rated an incident and is being investigated by the ATSB.
In a note to other accident investigation bodies (but not yet on their website) the ATSB reported that a post flight examination found the stage 4 turbine blades damaged.
On Sep 18th 2017 the ATSB released their final report concluding the probable cause was:
The right engine number four bearing failed, resulting in engine power loss.
The ATSB reported that while climbing through 4300 feet MSL the right hand engine emitted a number of bangs, the aircraft jolted, the master warning activated in the cockpit and the right hand engine instruments showed several warnings. A burning smell was observed. The first officer, pilot flying, identified a right hand engine failure, the crew worked the related memory items and shut the right hand engine down. Following the shut down the smell dissipated. The aircraft subsequently entered a hold while the crew worked other related checklists and returned to Dubbo for a visual approach and landing.
The ATSB reported:
The engine manufacturer conducted an engineering examination of the failed engine, however the examination was not completed in time for the release of this report.
An initial engineering examination found that the number four bearing failed. The bearing failure allowed the high pressure compressor to move off-centreline within the engine. This caused further damage and led to complete failure of the engine.
The damage to the failed bearing was consistent with overheating due to a lack of lubrication. At the time of the release of this report, the reason for the lack of lubrication to the number four bearing had not been determined.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Mar 23, 2017
Classification
Incident
Airline
REX Regional Express
Flight number
ZL-821
Departure
Dubbo, Australia
Destination
Sydney, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-RXS
Aircraft Type
SAAB 340
ICAO Type Designator
SF34
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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