Engine failure - VH-SBA, Wagga Wagga Aerodrome, New South Wales, on 4 October 2009

On 4 October 2009, at 1217 Eastern Standard Time, the flight crew of a SAAB Aircraft Co 340B aircraft, registered VH-SBA noted abnormal left engine temperature indications during initial climb-out on a scheduled passenger flight from Wagga Wagga Aerodrome, New South Wales to Melbourne, Victoria.

The flight crew later reported that they noticed abnormally high indications from the left engine inter-turbine temperature, before shutting down the left engine and returning to the aerodrome for landing. Subsequent inspection of the left engine indicated internal damage, specifically to the stage 1 compressor section blisk blade.

The left engine damage was the result of the fatigue-related failure and separation of four of the stage 1 compressor blisk blades. There was no evidence that material defects or abnormalities contributed to the failures.