[Peetwo]

REX and the case of the missing prop?

Understandably there was much media coverage when a REX SAAB rocked into YSSY minus a propeller...

The ATSB investigation page:

In-flight propeller malfunction involving SAAB 340 VH-NRX, 19 km NW of Sydney Airport, NSW, on 17 March 2017
 
Investigation number: AO-2017-032
Investigation status: Active
 

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Summary
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating an incident involving a Saab 340, registration VH-NRX, about 19 km from Sydney on 17 March 2017.

It is reported that the right propeller assembly detached in-flight during the Regional Express (REX) flight from Albury to Sydney, with 16 passengers and three crew on board. The aircraft landed safely at Sydney.

The ATSB is deploying a team of three investigators with expertise in materials failure engineering, recorded flight data analysis, and human factors.

Over the next few days, investigators will examine the aircraft, interview the flight and cabin crew, collect maintenance records and recorded flight data.

Important: The ATSB urges anyone who finds a piece of suspected aircraft debris NOT to handle it. Please call the local police or the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

More information will be made available as it comes to hand.
 
General details

Date: 17 Mar 2017
 
Investigation status: Active
 
Time: 11:49 EsuT
 
Investigation type: Occurrence Investigation
 
Location   (show map): Sydney Airport, 19 km NW
 
Occurrence type: Propeller/rotor malfunction
 
State: New South Wales
 
Occurrence category: Serious Incident
 
Report status: Pending
 
Highest injury level: None
 
Expected completion: Mar 2018 
 
Aircraft details

Aircraft manufacturer: Saab Aircraft Co.
 
Aircraft model: 340B
 
Aircraft registration: VH-NRX
 
Serial number: 340B-291
 
Operator: Regional Express
 
Type of operation: Air Transport Low Capacity
 
Sector: Turboprop
 
Damage to aircraft: Unknown
 
Departure point: Albury, NSW

Destination: Sydney, NSW 
 
 


Last update 17 March 2017

& a general media report from news.com.au (via Northern Star):

Passenger plane drops propeller over Sydney

Benedict Brook news.com.au | 17th Mar 2017 4:31 PM

Regional Express plane in emergency landing at Sydney airport  

A PLANE travelling from regional NSW to Sydney has been forced to make an emergency landing after a propeller fell off the aircraft and plunged to the ground over the city's suburbs.

The Regional Express (Rex) Saab 340 was travelling from Albury when the propeller detached from the fuselage mid-flight.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the incident and has advised anyone who finds aircraft debris to not handle it but report it to authorities.

Flight ZL768, which was approaching Kingsford Smith Airport from the north according to data from website Flightaware, landed safely at Sydney about midday. There are no reports of any injuries among the 16 passengers and three crew.

In the pan-pan call, the crew said the propeller assembly had "dislodged", Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson told AAP, while photographs of the plane on the ground showed the right propeller missing altogether. Mr Gibson said during his 20 years in the aviation industry he'd never heard of a propeller falling off a plane.

"I've never come across it ... it's very unusual," he said.

A "pan-pan" is one step away from a full mayday distress call.

The propeller detached about 19kms from Sydney airport which could mean any debris is located somewhere close to Gordon and Pymble in Sydney's north shore or the Ku-ring-gai Chase national park. However, there are some reports it could have occurred earlier in the flight, placing debris over the city's south west.



The Rex plane sans one propeller at Sydney airport. Picture Grahame Hutchison http://www.16right.com/Source:Supplied

The ATSB is deploying a team of three investigators with expertise in materials failure engineering, recorded flight data analysis, and human factors.

In a statement, the ATSB said, "Over the next few days, investigators will examine the aircraft, interview the flight and cabin crew, collect maintenance records and recorded flight data.

"The ATSB urges anyone who finds a piece of suspected aircraft debris NOT to handle it."
Rather, people should call local police or the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

And for one of the more amusing tweets, there was this from the Flightless Mallard  :

If anyone in SYD's southwest has a new lawn ornament today, call Regional Express. They're kinda looking for their missing propeller #whoops

Finally from the Oz, including the almost obligatory (nail in head) comment from Sandy... :

Propeller shears off mid-flight

12:00amEMILY RITCHIE

A Regional Express flight narrowly avoided disaster yesterday after a propeller sheared off the plane mid-flight.


Propeller drops off mid-flight

5:51pmEmily Ritchie

A Regional Express aircraft has been force to make an emergency landing at Sydney airport.

Passengers and crew aboard a Regional Express flight in NSW narrowly avoided death and disaster yesterday after a propeller was sheared off the plane mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing.

The REX airline plane SAAB 340, carrying 16 passengers and three crew members, was travelling from Sydney to Albury in the state’s south when its right hand propeller broke loose from the engine.

The pilots declared a PAN, which is one step down from a full-scale mayday, about 16km from Sydney airport at an altitude of about 6000ft.


The plane, minus a propeller at Sydney Airport after the emergency landing. Source: Twitter

“The prop has just fallen off the aircraft and standby for further instructions,” a man on the flight deck told air traffic controllers.

“REX 768 we’ve just had ... engine operations and our propeller has just shed off. We’ve got normal controls, still be able to fly, would require 1-6 right and we should be able to conduct a precautionary landing.”

The plane landed safely at its destination just after midday and no one was injured.
Byron Bailey, a former air force pilot who currently captains private jets, said it was very lucky the propeller didn’t swing inward and smash through the body of the plane.

“In the 50s, when they had all these propeller-driven airlines, there were cases of propellers flying off and chomping into the fuselage and killing people,” Mr Bailey said.

“They’re very lucky, because if a propeller came loose under power, it could be spinning at a couple of thousand revs a minute. Goodness knows what could have happened.”

The propeller has not yet been found and will be a crucial piece of evidence.

The aircraft was carrying 16 passengers and three crew. Picture: Grahame Hutchison

The Australian Transport Safety Authority and Civil Aviation Safety Authority are investigating the cause of the propellers detachment, with lines of inquiry including whether it was due to fatigue failure or inadequate maintenance.

Jason Middleton, an aviation professor at the University of NSW, also speculated if bad weather could have been a contributing factor.

“If it happened in adverse weather, that might have play a role,” said Professor Middleton. “A propeller falling off is very unusual. Unheard of in Australia, particularly in today’s world where maintenance is thorough and the requirements are well documented.”

Mr Bailey said it’s fortunate the propeller did not injure people on the ground given the flight path.

“It’s a very dangerous article. A big propeller heading earthward, particularly over populous areas, is very dangerous indeed.”

The aircraft’s manufacturer, Swedish company SAAB, has been contacted for comment.

The SAAB 340 model is popular worldwide, with Mr Bailey describing it as “perfect for low density, short routes”.

“SAAB would be very worried,” Mr Bailey said. “The 340 is well-designed and should be totally safe — it’s staggering. A propeller falling off its aircraft is a very serious matter indeed.”

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Alexander
13 hours ago

A serious incident which will be investigated quickly but some comments are overblown. The actual risk of injury to persons on the ground from a propellor is very low. Talk of the pilots being extra skillful and not panicking is also unrealistic. The pilots are well trained to fly on one engine and don't panic, they just get on with their job. What is true is that with General Aviation in severe decline because of a regime of astonishing over regulation, by an out of control (Un)Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the ability to train home grown pilots and maintenance engineers is rapidly diminishing. Airline pilots are already on the 457 work visa list, you might soon be wondering who is flying you around Australia. GA has lost thousands of jobs for no good reason, what an extraordinary waste. Alex in the Rises.

 
And for comment from our immaculately groomed & coiffured NFI miniscule...

http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/ch...index.aspx


  

Once again we see an example, especially in matters of aviation safety, of why it is we are called the 'Lucky Country' - TICK..TOCK goes the Oz aviation doomsday clock, the question is who will be holding the parcel when the music (& clock) stops...

 

MTF...P2