What happened
On 17 March 2017, a Saab 340B, registration VH-NRX, experienced an in-flight loss of a propeller while operating approximately 19 km southwest of Sydney, New South Wales. The incident occurred while the aircraft was in flight, resulting in the propeller separating from the right engine. Following the separation, the flight crew managed the emergency and executed a single-engine landing at Sydney Airport without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure that led to the propeller's detachment. Investigators examined the right engine's propeller reduction gearbox (PGB) and identified that the propeller shaft had fractured. This structural failure of the shaft was the direct mechanism that allowed the propeller to separate from the aircraft during flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the propeller separation was the fracture of the propeller shaft within the right engine's propeller reduction gearbox.
- The flight crew demonstrated effective communication and coordination during the emergency.
- The crew adhered to established checklists and procedures, ensuring a safe landing at the destination.