Commuter aircraft loses propellor approaching YSSY

[AussieMan]

Sydney Kingsford Smith International airport was temporarily closed around lunch time today when the pilot of a REX SAAB 340 on a flight from Albury (YMAY) to YSSY radioed that the starboard propeller had sheared off. He radioed that they still had full control and wold carry on to land.

The incident occurred around Camden as the aircraft was about to begin its approach to runway 07. The plane with 16 passengers and 3 crew landed at about 1205 and as the news reader commented the arrival was actually on time.

[wombat666]

As one would expect Pat!
No word so far regarding the Essendon incident last month, an outstanding example of why large buildings should never exist in a flight path.
The whole 'Urban Sprawl' should never have been allowed without a buffer zone around Essendon, as for the freeway......

[n4gix]

They were fortunate it was the starboard prop, as at least it was slug away from the aircraft.

Come to think of it, that's a very good argument for all twins to have contra-rotating engines...

[Victory103]

Well no need for autofeather. The Army had a King Air lose a LH prop years ago, after that I've always worried about the RH side coming off and slicing the cabin up.

[AussieMan]

Well the propeller was found today in a bushland reserve in the Sydney suburb or Revesby. Looking at the video taken from the POLAIR helicopter it appears that the prop in intact and in reasonably good condition. Even the propeller blades are still straight. Apparently the aircraft was on an approach to R7 at YSSY. It appears to have overflown the airport and turned north towards the Hawkesbury River in order to join the approach for R16R which is over 12000 feet long. Sounds like a bit of overkill but when thinking about it, it would be appropriate as they would have been unable to use reverse thrust. 6REX SAABs have been grounded and more could be.

[Motormouse]

Looks like gearbox output shaft failed.
Picture in this thread at Pprune
http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/5...australia.html

Ttfn

Pete