# NTSB CHI06IA011: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N244PS, West Grove, PA, October 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 2005, 00:25 local (04:25 UTC) - Place: West Grove, PA - Coordinates: 39.839168, -75.816947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8392&lon=-75.8169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 51 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Cincinnati FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62748 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06IA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62748/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06IA011 ## Probable cause The separation of the left engine exhaust nozzle during cruise climb due to inadequately designed attachment hardware. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise - exhaust system,exhaust cone/tailpipe(jet engine) - separation (cause) - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - failure,total (cause) - aircraft/equipment inadequate, manufacturer (cause) ## Analysis The left engine exhaust nozzle and fairing departed the airplane during cruise climb. The flight crew reported hearing a "small thud" while climbing through 15,000 feet msl. The flight crew stated that they monitored the aircraft engines and no anomalies were noted. The flight crew attributed the event to possible wake turbulence and elected to continue to their scheduled destination. During a post-flight inspection the flight crew noticed the left engine exhaust nozzle and fairing were missing. The left engine exhaust nozzle was found about 26.5 nm west-southwest of the departure airport. The nozzle was examined and its attachment hardware was missing. The bolt holes used to install the exhaust nozzle to the engine were elongated and had evidence of fretting. The exhaust nozzle manufacturer issued Service Bulletin CF34-NAC-78-024 on January 24, 2003, to address "exhaust nozzle bolt attachment failures." The service bulletin called for the removal of the existing hardware and replacement with "new, improved hardware." This maintenance was to be completed at the "operator's earliest convenience or within a maximum of 4,000 hours." At the time of the incident, the airplane had accumulated 3,440 hours since new. The service bulletin had not been complied with, according to the maintenance records. The operator immediately inspected their entire fleet of Bombardier CL-600-2B19 regional jets and found three additional aircraft with either missing or loose attachment exhaust nozzle hardware. The operator ordered replacement kits for the entire fleet and will comply with Service Bulletin CF34-NAC-78-024 upon delivery of the replacement parts. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2005, at 0025 eastern daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 regional jet, N244PS, sustained minor damage when the left engine exhaust nozzle and fairing departed the airplane during cruise climb near West Grove, Pennsylvania. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The flight was being operated by PSA Airlines, Inc., as a scheduled revenue flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. The flight crew and 48 passengers on-board were not injured. Flight 2319 departed Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 0004 and was en route to Dayton International Airport (DAY), Dayton, Ohio. The flight crew reported hearing a "small thud" while climbing through 15,000 feet msl. The flight crew stated that they monitored the aircraft engines and no anomalies were noted. The flight crew attributed the event to possible wake turbulence and elected to continue on to DAY. The airplane continued without further incident and during a post-flight inspection the flight crew noticed the left engine exhaust nozzle and fairing were missing. The left engine exhaust nozzle was found in West Grove, Pennsylvania, about 26.5 nm west-southwest of the departure airport. The nozzle was examined and its attachment hardware was missing. The bolt holes used to install the exhaust nozzle to the engine were elongated and had evidence of fretting. The exhaust nozzle manufacturer, Bombardier-Shorts, issued Service Bulletin CF34-NAC-78-024 on January 24, 2003, to address "exhaust nozzle bolt attachment failures." The most current service bulletin revision was dated April 1, 2004. The service bulletin called for the removal of the existing hardware and replacement with "new, improved hardware." This maintenance was to be completed at the "operator's earliest convenience or within a maximum of 4,000 hours." The incident airplane, serial number 7912, was issued an airworthiness certificate on April 16, 2004, and at the time of the incident had accumulated 3,440 hours since new. Service Bulletin CF34-NAC-78-024 had not been complied with, according to the maintenance records. Subsequent to the accident, the operator immediately inspected their entire fleet of Bombardier CL-600-2B19 regional jets and found three additional aircraft with either missing or loose attachment exhaust nozzle hardware. The operator ordered replacement kits for the entire fleet and will comply with Service Bulletin CF34-NAC-78-024 upon delivery of the replacement parts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N244PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N244PS-2025-12-09), registration cancelled 2025-12-09, S/N 7912, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bombardier, Inc. CL-600-2B19 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7912 - Airframe hours: 3440 - Engines: General Electric C-34-3B1 8729 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: PSA Airlines, Inc., doing business as US Airways Express - Registered owner: US Airways, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: PHL, Philadelphia, PA - Destination: DAY, Dayton, OH - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,222 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 32; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 534 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 25 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20051017032629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051017032629I), Oct 17, 2005: Cndair CL6002B19, West Grove, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) A [privacy data omitted] reported to this office that he found an aircraft part in his back yard on 17 oct, 2005. A loud noise awoke him at approx 0030… 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. --- 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.