# Accident 20030417008279A: Fokker F27MK600, Port Townsend, WA, April 17, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 2003, 15:30 local time
- Place: Port Townsend, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: COEA
- Location: 48.1539° N, 122.9303° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1539&lon=-122.9303&mi=10
- Aircraft: N730FE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N730FE-2008-04-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fokker F.27MK 600 (registry code 4990706, https://openairdocs.org/model/fokker-f-27mk-600) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce DART532 series (registry code 54509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-dart532-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FOKKER F27MK600
- Reported engine: RROYCE DART532*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA076) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030417008279A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON APRIL 17, 2003 ABOUT 1530PDT, A FOKKER F-27MK 600, N730FE, REGISTERED TO FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION, AND OPERATED BY EMPIRE AIRLINES AS A 14 CFR PART 121 SCHEDULED CARGO FLIGHT ENROUTE TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE NACELLE FIREWALL FOLLOWING A #1 ENGINE ACCESSORY GEAR BOX DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR PORT TOWNSEND, WA. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO SEATTLE WHERE A SINGLE-ENGINE LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION BY EMPIRE AIRLINES MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FOUND THE #1 ENGINE ACCESSORY GEAR BOX DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED AT THE GEAR BOX END. DRIVE SHAFT IS BEING SENT TO THE NTSB LAB FOR INSPECTION OF POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FAILURE. T/S/O ON DRIVE SHAFT 830 HRS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA03LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA076), Apr 17, 2003: Fokker F27MK 600 (N730FE), Port Townsend, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the accessory drive shaft due to deterioration of bearing number 1 in the aft fork of the universal joint for undetermined reasons during cruise flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.