Fractured turbine blades led to emergency landing in Rankin Inlet in 2024
The cause of the blades’ fracture, however, is still unknown according to TSB report
Cracks in aircraft turbine blades led to an emergency landing on the sea ice by Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, a recent report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) shows.
Though the cause of the fracture is still unknown.
The report, released Tuesday, said there were two crew members and one passenger on board the aircraft and no one was injured.
The engine failure happened on May 7, 2024 on a flight from Chesterfield Inlet to Rankin Inlet. The aircraft performed normally until it started its descent. Then the engine emitted a series of bangs with flames appearing from the exhaust ducts at the back of the aircraft.
The crew declared mayday and landed on the sea ice about nine kilometres from the Rankin Inlet airport. RCMP and the local fire department arrived by snowmobile approximately one hour and 20 minutes later.
The TSB’s investigation found damage to the plane’s power turbine where all the blades had “midspan” fractures.
The investigation determined the fractures are from “tensile overload,” meaning from excessive pulling or stretching however investigators found no evidence of material degradation or inconsistencies with manufacturer’s specifications.
“The cause of the power turbine blades fracture could not be established,” the report notes.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Northern airlines say feds should intervene if they want lower prices for the North, CBC North
Finland: Record December passenger numbers for airports in Arctic Finland, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: New Copenhagen-Kangerlussuaq flight aims to boost Greenland tourism, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Air France launches flights to three destinations above the Arctic Circle, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Northern Scandinavia to pioneer commercial flights with electric planes, Radio Sweden
