Shocking video has revealed the moment a propeller belt that had not been removed before take-off tore through a plane and injured a passenger.
The terrifying incident occurred in November 2022 and involved a Saab 340 aircraft operated by Link Airways on a flight from Canberra to Sydney.
The propeller strap is designed to prevent the propeller from spinning in the wind when the aircraft is on the ground between flights and must be removed before takeoff.
But unbeknownst to the pilot, the propeller belt became attached to the plane’s engine when the plane took off from Canberra Airport.
After the aircraft began to climb to its operating altitude, the strap detached from the propeller blade and passed through the fuselage to embed itself in the cabin wall.
some engine The hood pins also came loose from the strap and a fragment struck a passenger causing a minor injury.
An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found that the propeller belt had not been removed during normal pre-flight preparations.
Following the terrifying incident, the plane returned to Canberra (with the pilot still unaware of what had happened) and landed safely, before emergency services assessed the injured passenger.
The propeller belt was not removed before takeoff.
The propeller belt separated from the rotating propeller blade and became embedded in the cockpit wall.
Since the terrifying incident, Link Air has rectified any discrepancies in its propeller belts.
The ATSB investigation revealed that the cabin manager alerted the flight crew about the passenger’s injury and that the plane needed to return to Canberra, where an ambulance would be needed.
However, the flight crew believed that the emergency was only related to the passengers and did not realize that the plane had been damaged until after landing.
The investigation found that several factors contributed to the propeller belt not being noticeable or being removed before departure.
A tether extension line, used to guide passengers onto the plane, was not installed.
“The strap extension does not allow the door to be closed while it is in place and as such would almost certainly have prevented the flight from proceeding with the propeller strap in place,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus said. Mitchell.
The report also revealed that the belt did not have a high-visibility serpentine installed according to the manufacturer’s design.
“For those directly involved in air operations, this event should highlight the importance of vigilance,” Mr Mitchell said.
Since the alarming incident, Link Airways has rectified any discrepancies in its propeller belts.
The airline has also updated flight and cabin crew operating manuals to include additional pre-flight checks.
