REX768 - Saab 340 loses prop inbound to YSSY

[Kurt A]

Well, this happened earlier today.... (courtesy of Grahame Hutchison and heads up from Seth Jaworski)

REX768, a Saab 340, operating a scheduled flight from Albury to Sydney today lost its entire right side no.2 prop inbound to Sydney.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7Fg1o4VoAIgONb.jpg

https://twitter.com/www16Right/status/842561803011862528

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/RXA768

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHNRX

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/zl768#cc2d4ec


A full emergency was declared. The aircraft tracked over the field and made a safe landing on 16R at 12:08pm.

ATC audio suggests the incident occurred over or prior south western Sydney, inbound.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/passenger-planes-propeller-shears-off-in-midflight-forcing-emergency-landing-at-sydney-20170317-gv0i1c.html

[Nigel C]

Well, this happened earlier today.... (courtesy of Grahame Hutchison)

I don't think it's very fair blaming Grahame for this one ;) :p

[Kurt A]

/\
|
|
smooth

[Greg Hyde]

Yikes,

Lucky it didn't spin inboard and hit the fuselage.

[Greg Hyde]

Someone better update flightaware, says it is a twin prop.

[Greg Hyde]

ABC news and more photos (not as good as Grahame's)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-17/rex-flight-forced-into-emergency-landing-after-losing-propeller/8364218

[Stephen Brown]

First stage of Prop to Turbine conversion process...

[Robert.M]

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/4537889/propeller-takes-flight-forcing-emergency-landing/?cs=147

Not what I want to read and see, got a flight in less then two weeks with REX to SYD! Rare event but still. :/

[Greg Hyde]

Lead story on Ch10 news.

Reported, prop sheared off over Camden.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Thank you Channel 10 for using my image on wide screen ... I checked the Hi-Res images and could not find a mark on the aircraft - very lucky Passengers and Crew. The Pilot on the
radio was as calm as, and they both did an excellent job landing the aircraft with one engine in the wet and windy weather.

http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/Channel10_2.png

[Adrian B]

With or without permission Grahame??

[Greg Hyde]

ATSB

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2017/aair/ao-2017-032/

Note at bottom of investigation.

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.

Check EBay tomorrow

[Greg Hyde]

Grahame gets a quote in the SMH

http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/regional-express-plane-in-emergency-landing-at-sydney-airport/news-story/4c34ae8ab329928283860185878dd312

[Philip Argy]

Listening to the ATC I thought I heard a puzzled Qantaslink a/c with a medical emergency claiming 16R priority as "the PAN aircraft", only to be told that there was another PAN a/c 7 minutes ahead of them with "one engine shut down" and, because a runway inspection would be needed after it landed, they would have to accept 16L or stay aloft until 16R had the all clear. Needless to say they elected 16L but, just as they were established on 16L, 16R was declared available and they made a quick switch with a steeper descent from the sound of it!

The two ATC archives I downloaded from https://www.liveatc.net/archive.php for YSSY Tower/Approach are UTC 17/03/17 0030Z and 17/03/17 0100Z which include the period from approximately 11:48 am Friday Sydney time when the first PAN call was made from REX768 through to when 16R was re-opened following its vacating and a runway inspection to verify that no debris had fallen from the exposed engine or anywhere else.

[Nigel C]

It never rains.....

[Philip Argy]

... but it was just pouring!

[Adrian B]

Apparently Rex has now grounded an unknown number of aircraft.

Source News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/rex-grounds-planes-after-propeller-mishap/news-story/73129cc7fd2763d274e2e8471ff0caf8)

From the article:

Rex has decided, by abundance of caution, to immediately remove from service and quarantine all propeller gear boxes and shafts of the same series as that of the incident for further inspection and testing if warranted," Rex said in a statement on Monday.

[MarkR]

They have grounded 5 additional birds who use the same components as the original victim.

[Kurt A]

Rex Media Release today...

REX PROVIDES FURTHER DETAILS ON FLIGHT ZL768 ALBURY-SYDNEY

On Friday 17 March 2017, Regional Express (Rex) flight ZL768 from Albury to Sydney, carrying 16 passengers and 3 crew, was on approach to land at Sydney Airport when its right hand propeller separated from its shaft approximately 25 km south west of Sydney.

The crew followed standard operating procedures and reported the event to Air Traffic Control (ATC) for priority landing. The aircraft landed normally and none of the passengers or crew needed further assistance.

The following has been established over the last three days of investigations:

- Following abnormal indications on the right hand engine and in accordance with checklist procedures, the crew shut down the engine;
- Shutting down the engine also feathers the propeller in order to reduce drag;
- It was at this point that the propeller assembly was seen by the First Officer to separate from its shaft;
- The propeller assembly was seen to rotate upwards and to the right. The propeller was seen rotating in a horizontal position and then moving away without making contact with the aircraft;
- Both passengers and crew reported that the flight thereafter was smooth and the landing was normal in spite of bad weather at Sydney with winds exceeding 35 knots;
- All passengers have been contacted and none required further assistance;
- The propeller was found to have sheared off at the shaft and all the fittings at the main assembly were intact;
- The propeller has not yet been located;
- The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) were immediately informed following the event. The ATSB has despatched a team of investigators to Sydney and the aircraft has been quarantined;
- Rex has also been in constant communication with the aircraft manufacturer, Saab and the engine manufacturer, General Electric (GE). The latter has also kept the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States fully appraised of the situation and the developments.

While waiting for the ATSB to determine the root cause of the incident through its metallurgical analysis and other investigations, Rex has decided, by abundance of caution, to immediately remove from service and quarantine all Propeller Gear Boxes and shafts of the same series as that of the incident for further inspection and testing if warranted.

Rex’s Chief Operating Officer Mr Neville Howell said; “This is an extremely rare event and the only other recorded similar event was in 1991 when US carrier Comair’s aircraft also landed safely after a separation of its propeller.”

“Rex places great emphasis on emergency procedures during the crew’s bi-annual training so that when rare emergencies like this one arise, the crew are well rehearsed to respond appropriately to ensure a safe outcome. The Saab 340 aircraft is designed to climb, cruise and land on one engine with appropriate levels of redundancy to cope with these contingencies.”

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I commend the Captain and First Officer (FO) for theirmanagement of the event.”

“The crew demonstrated enormous composure and discipline under extraordinary circumstances, and I commend their professionalism. The Captain displayed exceptional skills in landing the aircraft so smoothly in bad weather and strong winds, so much so that the passengers did not notice anything different.”

“We would also like to thank the flight attendant and our staff at Sydney Airport for their assistance and support to our passengers.”

“An audio clip of the exchange between the FO and ATC has been obtained by the media, and the entire aviation world is full of praise for the calm, collected and professional manner in which the young FO interfaced with ATC. This is a great testimony to the quality of training at Rex’s Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA) where the FO was a Rex cadet graduate in 2014, as well as to the CAR 217 Training and Checking Organisation within Rex.”

“As there is an on-going investigation by the ATSB, Rex will leave it to this authority to provide any technical updates it deems appropriate. However, we wish to state categorically that all our actions and decisions will be taken in strict compliance with the instructions of the various authorities and Original Equipment Manufacturers, and we have safety as our paramount consideration.”

Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 50 Saab 340 aircraft on some 1,500 weekly flights to 58 destinations throughout all states in Australia. In addition to the regional airline Regional Express, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight and charter operator), Air Link (Dubbo-based regional airline) and the Australian Airline Pilot Academy.


Rex Media Contact: Corporate Communications: +61 402 438 361 media@rex.com.au

[MarkR]

Its not quite as rare an event as Rex make out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Southeast_Airlines_Flight_529

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Southeast_Airlines_Flight_2311

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Canada_Air_Lines_Flight_304

https://www.fss.aero/accident-reports/dvdfiles/US/1993-04-19-US.pdf

[Grahame Hutchison]

A short recreation of the Rex propeller separation event last Friday, based on actual ATC transmissions, and archive footage of Rex aircraft at Sydney.

Images of the actual aircraft (VH-NRX) after the event are included at the end of the video.

Youtube Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POvmZpbujGc)

[Greg Hyde]

AA Update incl picture of a/c on approach

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/03/regional-express-to-withdraw-propeller-gearboxes-and-shafts-in-response-to-loss-of-propeller-incident/

[Mark T]

I just noticed that Ben Sandilands (in his "Plane Talking" blog) is advising that Rex broke air safety rules by feathering the prop after noticing a malfunction and then flew from Canberra at 8000 feet.

https://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2017/03/20/62116/

However on FR24 the aircraft is seen to be flying at FL17 nearly all the way to Sydney before beginning a seemingly normal descent.

The mystery deepens...

[Stephen Brown]

So was the engine shutdown just past Canberra or has crikey got it very wrong??

[Mark T]

Hi Stephen

Well if FR24 is correct then REX768 reached FL17 just before Tumut and started descent from this altitude west of RIVET, so well past Canberra. I would have to say Crikey has got it wrong at least re the altitude, or have different source.

Cheer
Mark

[Mark T]

The propeller from the plane has apparently been found by police.
It was found in bushland off the River Road in Revesby, so a bit closer to YSSY than originally thought.

Cheers
M

[Kurt A]

Confirmed found in the bush land between The River Road and Sandakan Road - some 700-900 metres left of track.
Winds from the south would've played a part in it's final location.

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/03/21/14/22/rex-propeller-found-in-sydney-bushland

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/21/rex-propeller-found-sydney-bushland

[Grahame Hutchison]

The Rex propeller was found in the position I calculated in my Tweet at 6:05pm last Friday evening.

View Tweet (https://twitter.com/www16Right/status/842632174234820608)

[MarkR]

Not quite, your dot is over Alford's Point Rd, River Rd begins left of the indicated flight path which I suspect is a mapping error, as I don't think there would have been too much lateral travel on the props flight path. Unless the River Rd reference is wrong?

[Kent Broadhead]

Give him a little slack Mark! Pretty darn close.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Mark, This was the actual Flight Path based on our ADS-B tracking data, the Prop Separation call by Rex 768 was at the Padstow position, so allowing a small amount of time for the crew to react to what had just happened before making the radio call, and you have the midpoint of my original prediction of between Picnic Point and Padstow Heights. By my calculations the prop was 800m left of this track.

Note: Camden is 31km further to the southwest of this location - not sure how the authorities (or Media) came up with this.

[Nigel C]

...as I don't think there would have been too much lateral travel on the props flight path.

I presume you've made a paper helicopter before? They never fall straight to the ground.

Even though the prop was feathered (and the pictures from it laying in the bush would suggest that it hit the ground that way), I suspect that it would have developed quite some rotation on the way down from 8000', leading to a good amount of lateral travel. Also the wind on the ground at YSSY was southerly up to 35kt, so I imagine it was even stronger at altitude also helping to push it off course.

[MarkR]

Give him a little slack Mark! Pretty darn close.

Absolutely, very close indeed and good work, should have said so in my post :(, and knowing the press the actual area might be a lot closer than I estimate. Being a former Picnic Point resident I am reasonably familiar with that part of town.
Still amazed it happened the way it did, plenty of schools, roads and houses could easily have been the unintended target.

[MarkR]

I presume you've made a paper helicopter before? They never fall straight to the ground.

Even though the prop was feathered (and the pictures from it laying in the bush would suggest that it hit the ground that way), I suspect that it would have developed quite some rotation on the way down from 8000', leading to a good amount of lateral travel. Also the wind on the ground at YSSY was southerly up to 35kt, so I imagine it was even stronger at altitude also helping to push it off course.

I will be interested to read the report in due course, the southerly would have been a factor which might well explain how it travelled laterally 1/3 of the distance it fell from. I am surprised at the condition it's in going by the initial pictures.

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/AHkBQ/fi-7c1e4d5a-4cff-4e9f-8eca-f2aa703a3167/fv-0ce34ba4-c7c5-42ff-a5dc-60501d1e10ee/210317%20Polair%20missing%20prop%20still_001.JPG

[Greg Hyde]

I wonder how long the search took based on the size of the target.

When you look at the pictures it was had to see it within the trees.

Someone missed out on a nice lawn ornament in Southern Sydney.

[MarkR]

Hi Stephen

Well if FR24 is correct then REX768 reached FL17 just before Tumut and started descent from this altitude west of RIVET, so well past Canberra. I would have to say Crikey has got it wrong at least re the altitude, or have different source.

Cheer
Mark

Crikey have got it wrong and redacted a lot of the story. From what I can tell a vibration was felt circa Camden, engine shutdown and prop feathered with departure of the prop over Revesby Heights.

[Rowan McKeever]

Despite the redactions, all of which are more than justified, the Crikey post is STILL incorrect. The propeller had been found and the press release issued HOURS before the redaction's... such irresponsible reporting and potentially very damaging to Rex.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170321/47d149ac8a8f9c2721f1fb3d41a174e3.jpg

[Nigel C]

I will be interested to read the report in due course, the southerly would have been a factor which might well explain how it travelled laterally 1/3 of the distance it fell from. I am surprised at the condition it's in going by the initial pictures.

I was surprised too, but to me that suggests that it hit the ground in a reasonably flat position.

One thing's for sure, it must have made one helluva thump when it hit!

[Rowan McKeever]

I was also surprised by the condition of the propeller. I would be curious to know whether the shaft was attached still.

[Kurt A]

Flight ZL768 Propeller Found

Regional Express (Rex) has been advised today by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) that that the propeller assembly that separated from an aircraft operating flight ZL768 on Friday 17 March 2017 has been found in the Georges River National Park about 18 km from Sydney Airport by the NSW Police Force Airwing (Polair).

Rex’s chief operating officer Neville Howell said, “the propeller will be vital in assisting the ATSB with their investigations. Further technical updates will be provided as appropriate by the ATSB. On behalf of the Board, I wish to place on record our immense gratitude to Polair for its utmost dedication, perseverance and professionalism in the search for the missing propeller without which the full ATSB investigations may be delayed by many days if not weeks.”

Rex also takes this opportunity to correct certain gross inaccuracies in recent Seven News reports and other media:

- that the aircraft should be diverted to Canberra in accordance with regulations.

As stated in our previous media release and as confirmed by the location of the propeller, the aircraft was some 20 km away from Sydney Airport when the engine was shut down and the propeller separated from the aircraft. It would be ludicrous for the pilot to divert the aircraft 250 km to Canberra Airport when Sydney Airport was just 20 km away. The company stands behind the decision made by the crew to continue to Sydney Airport. This was the correct and safest decision and in full compliance with both regulatory and company requirements. Further, Sydney Airport has a precision landing system, longer runway and more suitable runway orientation to cope with the prevailing strong winds.


- that maintenance checks would have been able to detect the fault in the vulnerable propeller shaft.

It is premature to second guess the outcome of the ATSB investigations but on Rex’s part, it has been fully compliant with the engineering inspections prescribed by General Electric (GE), the manufacturer of the engine assembly.

Finally, Rex wishes to clarify that it did not ground any of its aircraft. Rex has simply taken the precautionary measure to replace the gear boxes and shafts (of the same series as the separated propeller) of 5 aircraft, and this will be carried out over the next 2-3 days. Only minor disruptions are expected and affected passengers will be notified in advance.


Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 50 Saab 340 aircraft on some 1,500 weekly flights to 58 destinations throughout all states in Australia. In addition to the regional airline Regional Express, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight and charter operator), Air Link (Dubbo-based regional airline) and the Australian Airline Pilot Academy.

Rex Media Contact: Corporate Communications: +61 402 438 361 media@rex.com.au

[Kent Broadhead]

Absolutely, very close indeed and good work, should have said so in my post :(, and knowing the press the actual area might be a lot closer than I estimate. Being a former Picnic Point resident I am reasonably familiar with that part of town.
Still amazed it happened the way it did, plenty of schools, roads and houses could easily have been the unintended target.

I knew you must have been local - I've done my time around the area too, and amazing luck it landed where it did. Appears to be the ridge between Cattleduffers and River Rd?

[Kurt A]

Appears to be the ridge between Cattleduffers and River Rd?

Hi Kent,

The location you mention above was almost directly underneath the aircraft's track, however the propeller was found north in the location mentioned below.

Confirmed found in the bush land between The River Road and Sandakan Road - some 700-900 metres left of track.
Winds from the south would've played a part in it's final location.

[MarkR]

I knew you must have been local - I've done my time around the area too, and amazing luck it landed where it did. Appears to be the ridge between Cattleduffers and River Rd?

A second or two earlier and I reckon Picnic Point Public School would have been hit assuming the same 800m deviation from track.

[Greg Hyde]

Prop recovered and trucked to Bankstown

http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/propeller-recovered-from-revesby-bushland-after-falling-off-rex-plane-20170321-gv3km7.html

Includes pictures of prop (which looks intact)

[Kent Broadhead]

Thanks Kurt - I'd missed your post on the exact location. Much appreciated.

[Greg Hyde]

ABC report has video of lift plus google maps of landing location.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-22/rex-flight-propeller-that-fell-off-winched-revesby-bushland/8376238

[Philip Argy]

The retrieval video showed the centre shaft with very clear signs of a twist shear - as if the engine seized suddenly leaving the prop momentum strong enough to simply shear the connecting shaft from the resultant torque.

[Adrian B]

Visialisation and ATC recordings Here - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=povLEP6CmZM)

[Noel White]

From my logs, VH-NRX is still at KSA. Any updates?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Interesting that they used three of my Rex VH-NRX images in that VASAviation video, on one they cropped off the Copyright, the other two you can't read the copyright even on a large screen monitor, there was no acknowledgement or credit that I could see, and they did not request permission to use the images.

[Nigel C]

Dear lawyers.....

[Adrian B]

comment added....

[Grahame Hutchison]

Rex Saab 340B VH-NRX Update

This afternoon VH-NRX was parked on DOM 5 in among the Corporate Jets, this time with both propellers missing. I would assume that the Port Prop and Drive Shaft have be removed for testing, as
they were possible from the same component batches. It also looks like part of the Port Wing leading edge has been removed, outward of the engine.

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-NRX D500-20170403-013.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-NRX D500-20170403-010.jpg

[Philip Argy]

I'm sure the answer is online somewhere, but I prefer the SAMB knowledgebase. Does the Saab 340 have counter-rotating props, or do they both spin clockwise or anti-clockwise? My recollection from the last time I sat in a seat next to a prop was that they both spin clockwise.

I only ask because of the reported trajectory of the prop after the shaft sheared: it is said to have gone up and assumed a horizontal plane like a Frisbee before drifting off in the wind to its final resting place. Missing the fuselage and control surfaces was incredibly lucky, but what would have happened if the prop had come off the left engine? Or are there just too many variables/vectors at work to be able to predict anything?

[Robert.M]

Half of NRX is in the REX hangar tonight when I went past. Looks like a few people looking at it too.

[Robert.M]

Parked out with the charter jets again on Wednesday morning.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2917/33712958512_1d3685f8f7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Tn6J2o)

[Mark Grima]

Preliminary report below.

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2017/aair/ao-2017-032/

A fatigue fracture near a dowel pin bore on the prop mounting flange appears to be responsible.

The report goes on to say there is currently no requirement to inspect dowel pin bores.

Cheers

M

[Greg McDonald]

Nothing worse than a fatigue fracture near your flange I've always said......

[Greg Hyde]

Final Report issued

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2017/aair/ao-2017-032/

[Greg Hyde]

Final Report issued

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2017/aair/ao-2017-032/

[Philip Argy]

Looks like sensible and worthwhile responses to this incident from engine manufacturer GE, operator REX, and even FAA. The Swedes apparently made no comment.