What happened
On 29 May 2014, a Bombardier CS100, registered as C-FBCS, was undergoing engine ground runs at the Montréal International (Mirabel) Airport in Quebec. The aircraft, which was carrying two pilots and four test engineers, was part of a pre-aircraft certification testing program. At approximately 18:37 EDT, the left Pratt & Whitney Canada PW1524G engine suffered a sudden loss of power. This was triggered by an uncontained turbine rotor failure.
Following the failure, the crew received reports of smoke and fire originating from the engine. In response, the flight crew immediately performed an engine shutdown and declared an emergency. All six occupants on board successfully evacuated the aircraft. While Bombardier ground personnel were able to extinguish the fire, the engine and the airframe sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the engine components during the ground test sequence. Investigators examined the nature of the turbine rotor failure and the subsequent fire and smoke development. The investigation also looked into the operational procedures used during the engine ground runs to determine how the failure occurred and the impact of the engine shutdown on the aircraft's structural integrity.