Engine Debris May Point To Cause OF Engine Failure

NTSB searchers found the debris from a jet engine from an America West flight that failed over Colorado January 25, as reported by ANN. Enroute to Phoenix from Denver, the pilot returned safely to DIA using his one good engine. None of the 54 passengers or crew was injured.

The Mesa Airlines CRJ200, operating as America West Express Flight 2985, experienced an uncontained engine failure while climbing through 24,000 feet. The left engine cowling, fan, and other forward components separated over sparsely populated mountainous terrain over Colorado.

The jet's flight crew declared an emergency and immediately returned for an uneventful landing at the Denver International Airport. The aircraft itself sustained minor damage to the fuselage, left engine pylon, and tail section during the engine separation, reported ANN.

Using trajectory analysis, NTSB crews pinpointed an area in Teller County where they searched for and found most of the engine debris. The debris will be studied to determine the cause of the failure and if the problem affects similar jet engines.

GE says there hasn't been a failure such as this in any of the more than 2,000 CF34-3B1 engines placed in service since 1992.

Air safety investigator Jennifer Kaiser of the NTSB's Central Mountain Region in Denver is leading the investigation team. Members include NTSB engineers, FAA inspectors; Mesa Airlines; Bombardier Canada; and General Electric Corporation.

Mesa Airlines spokesman Brian Gillman said maintenance was up-to-date on the engine but declined further comment to the media. Bombardier spokesman Marc Duchesne declined comment, citing the NTSB investigation.

According to NTSB records, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 operated by PSA Airlines experienced a similar problem on Oct. 17, 2005, while climbing near West Grove, PA.

The plane's left-engine exhaust nozzle and fairing fell off due to "inadequately designed attachment hardware," the NTSB's probable cause report said. No injuries were reported.

PSA ordered replacement hardware for its entire fleet of CL-600-2B19 jets, the NTSB said.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov