# NTSB ERA10IA094: Cessna 208B, N701FX, Rome, NY, December 3, 2009

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 2009, 07:47 local (12:47 UTC)
- Place: Rome, NY
- Coordinates: 43.23389, -75.406944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2339&lon=-75.4069&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO, Wiggins Airways, Inc.
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10IA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75155/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75155
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10IA094

## Probable cause

The operator's inadequate engine wash intervals, which resulted in compressor turbine blade sulphidation and subsequent turbine blade failure.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (turbine/turboprop): compressor section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057230): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057230/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057230/cases.md)
- [Scheduling: maintenance scheduling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04023025): Organizational issues › Management · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04023025/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04023025/cases.md)
- [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was climbing through 7,500 feet when the pilot heard a grinding noise and saw that the gas generator speed indicator had dropped to zero. The engine then seized and the pilot declared an emergency. An air traffic controller provided vectors toward an airport; however, the airplane landed in a field about 3 miles short of the runway. Subsequent disassembly of the engine revealed compressor turbine blade fractures at varying heights above the platform and downstream damage to the power turbine blades. Further examination revealed that 13 blades were fractured at the platform, with 8 of those exhibiting fatigue fractures at the leading edge, and overload fractures toward the trailing edge. The remaining five blades exhibited ductile overload fractures over the entire fracture surface. A number of blades were also fixed to the disc, with the mating surfaces of both the blades and the disc exhibiting corrosion. Examination of blade serrations revealed an accumulation of orange dust, with black corrosion blisters observed at various locations. Dust analysis revealed sulphidation, with airborne salts likely reacting with the oxide layer on the blades to result in oxide layer decay. Subsequent to the incident, the operator increased engine water washes from once every 50 hours of engine operation to weekly, and incorporated borescope inspections into the engine maintenance program at every 100 hours of operation.

## Factual narrative

On December 3, 2009, at 0747 eastern standard time, a Cessna 208B, N701FX, operated as Wiggins Airways flight 8409, experienced a loss of engine power followed by a forced landing to a field near Rome, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured, and there was no damage to the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the landing site. The airplane was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, New York, to Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG), Plattsburgh, New York. The unscheduled cargo flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. According to the company vice president of operations, the airplane was climbing through 7,500 feet when the pilot heard a “grinding noise,” and saw the Ng indication drop to zero. The engine then seized, and the pilot declared an emergency. Air traffic control provided vectors toward Griffiss International Airport (RME), Rome, New York; however, the airplane forced landed in a field about 3 miles short of runway 15. The engine was subsequently disassembled under Federal Aviation Administration oversight at Pratt and Whitney Engine Services, Bridgeport, West Virginia. Disassembly revealed compressor turbine (CT) blade fractures at varying heights above the platform, and downstream damage to the power turbine blades. The CT disc was forwarded to Pratt and Whitney Canada facilities in Montreal, Quebec, for further examination. According to Pratt & Whitney Canada Engine/Component Investigation Report No. 09ASA06, a total of 13 blades were fractured at the platform, with 8 of those exhibiting smooth fracture surfaces at the leading edge, consistent with fatigue. Those blades also exhibited a "dull dendritic appearance" toward the trailing edge, consistent with overload. The remaining five blades exhibited a dull dendritic appearance over the entire fracture surface, consistent with ductile overload. During disc disassembly, only 14 of the blades were easily removed, and the others had to be pushed out, which was partially attributed to the disc having rubbed against the case. Several other blades were extracted with little or no evidence of rubbing, suggesting they were fixed to the disc. Further examination revealed black corrosion blisters on the mating surfaces of both the blades and the disc. Examination of blade serrations revealed an accumulation of orange dust, with black corrosion blisters also observed at various locations. Dust analysis indicated the presence of calcium and sulphur, with sulphates noted by the report as being common in "concrete, runway dust and in marine atmospheres." Analysis was also conducted on "grayish nodules" in a corroded area of one blade, which indicated features consistent with sulphidation. "The sulphur in the dust, most likely a salt, was the corrosive element." Spectrum analysis revealed that the chemical composition of the bladesand blade coatings were within specifications. Subsequent to the incident, the operator increased engine water washes from once every 50 hours of operation to weekly, and incorporated borescope inspections into the engine maintenance program at every 100 hours of operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N701FX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N701FX), registered now, S/N 208B0420, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B0420
- Airframe hours: 6606
- Engines: P&W PT6A SER 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Wiggins Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Federal Express Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 13, 2009, 14 hours before
- Departed: SYR, Syracuse, NY
- Destination: PBG, Plattsburgh, NY
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 8,200 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 4,460 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.25 inHg
- Observed at: RME, 3 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 20091203052679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091203052679I), Dec 3, 2009: Cessna 208B, Rome, NY, No damage. Aircraft departed syracuse new york (syr) enroute to plattsburgh (pbg) new york. At approximately 15 miles to the north of Rome NY (rme) as the aircraft was…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75155. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pratt & Whitney Canada Engine/Component Investigation Report (item 2, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pratt%20%26%20Whitney%20Canada%20Engine%2FComponent%20Investigation%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Maintenance Improvements Email (item 4, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Improvements%20Email-Master.PDF

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.

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