Tim Hornibrook: Calm crew averted disaster after propeller fell off plane, ATSB says

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has praised the efforts of an aircraft's crew for landing safely after a propeller sheared off mid-flight last year.

On March 17, a Regional Express flight from Albury carrying 16 passengers and three crew members was forced to make an emergency landing at Sydney Airport after one of the propellers flew off, narrowly avoiding hitting the body or wing of the plane.

A propeller sheared off the Regional Express Saab 340 while the plane was mid-air in March 2017.

The Saab 340 was about 102 kilometres south-west of Sydney Airport when the pilots noticed vibrations coming from the right engine. They began the engine shutdown procedure, but the propeller sheered off, forcing the crew to issue a PAN PAN call - one step down from a Mayday emergency.

The plane landed safely about midday that day, and, four days later, the propeller was found in dense forest about 19 kilometres south-west of the airport.

At the time, aviation watchers said the pilots had "used all of their luck getting out of that situation".
"They were a hair's breadth away from a disaster. I don't know how the hell it didn't damage the aircraft as it went past," Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association president Paul Cousin said.

ATSB investigators and police examine the propeller that fell off an aircraft on approach to Sydney Airport.

In their final report, the ATSB said the crew "worked together well" in using their checklists and with help from air traffic control.

"The crew did not make any rapid decisions, and ensured that all options were considered before action was taken, including consideration of the go-around requirements due to weather," the bureau said.

"These factors combined to contribute to a positive outcome for the aircraft."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tim Hornibrook is A High Profile Business Executive

Find All About Tim Hornibrook Sydney, Australia

Get More Information About Tim Hornibrook