Engine damage.
Honeywell
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Honeywell Aerospace; Phoenix, Arizona
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N2691W
Location: Rifle, CO
Accident Number: CEN15LA202
Date & Time: 04/16/2015, 2245 MDT
Registration: N2691W
Aircraft: FAIRCHILD SA227 AC
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Scheduled
On April 16, 2015, about 2245 mountain daylight time, a Fairchild SA227-AC, twin-engine airplane, N2691W, operating as Key Lime flight 168, was substantially damaged after an uncontained engine failure during climb near Rifle, Colorado. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to CBG LLC, Wilsonville, Oregon, and was operated by Key Lime Air Corporation, Englewood, Colorado. Dark, night, instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 scheduled cargo flight. The airplane departed from Garfield County Regional Airport (RIL), Rifle, Colorado, at 2237 and was destined for Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado
The pilot reported that during a climb, when still well below the tops of nearby mountains, he heard a "bang" followed by a complete loss of power and engine fire indications from the right engine. After completing appropriate checklist items, the pilot declared an emergency and diverted to Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado, for an instrument approach and landing at 2311. The airplane landed without further incident.
A post accident examination of the airplane revealed the second stage turbine rotor from the right engine had separated. One portion of the rotor exited through the left side of the engine and nacelle structure, penetrated the right side of the fuselage, and came to rest inside the fuselage wall. Other portions of the separated rotor exited through the right side of the engine. There was thermal damage to the engine and the inside of the nacelle structure, but no evidence of a sustained fire in that area. The examination of the turbine engine noted fatigue cracks on the 2nd stage rotor disk. The rotor disk had a reported 3,901.4 hrs., and 4,143 cycles.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 28
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/27/2014
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 10/08/2014
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2920 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1130 hours (Total, this make and model), 2765 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 117 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 53 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: FAIRCHILD
Registration: N2691W
Model/Series: SA227 AC
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1986
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Commuter; Normal
Serial Number: AC-655B
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 3
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/24/2015, Continuous Airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 16000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 26855 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: AIRESEARCH
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: TPE331 SERIES
Registered Owner: CBG LLC
Rated Power: 1100 hp
Operator: KEY LIME AIR CORPORATION
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As: DENVER AIR CONNECTION
Operator Designator Code: KY7A
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: KRIL, 5522 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2253 MDT
Direction from Accident Site: 71°
Lowest Cloud Condition: / 2000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 2000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 130°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Light - Rain
Departure Point: Rifle, CO (RIL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: DENVER, CO (DEN)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 2237 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: GARFIELD COUNTY RGNL (RIL)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 5537 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Wet
Runway Used: 26
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 7000 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 39.525833, -107.728056 (est)
A perfect case where the pilot in command did everything correctly. Engine failure resulting in a single engine IFR approach at night.
ReplyDelete