Narrative:
A Swearingen SA226-TC, N158WA, was substantially damaged due to foreign object damage to the airplane's propeller and fuselage during initial takeoff/climb from Boise Air Terminal, Idaho, USA.
According to Federal Aviation Administration personnel, about the time the airplane was rotating from runway 10L, the pilot experienced a light vibration; he subsequently returned to BOI and landed uneventfully. During a post-landing examination of the airplane, it was revealed that a portion of the outboard section of a left propeller blade, which had fragmented into 2 pieces, was missing. Additionally, about a 4 inch by 4 inch puncture hole was observed to have gone through the left forward side of the fuselage just aft of the main air stair door; a piece of the propeller blade was found in the cabin. It was further noted during a runway sweep for foreign objects shortly after the occurrence, that a screw driver which had been used during maintenance on the airplane earlier, and the second piece of the propeller blade tip, were both recovered from the departure runway in the same approximate location from where the airplane would have rotated.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Company maintenance personnel's failure to remove a screwdriver that was left lodged in the windshield wiper area of the forward fuselage during maintenance and subsequently became dislodged on takeoff/initial climb and collided with a left propeller blade."
Runway mishap
accident date: 20-03-2017
type: Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II
registration: N158WA
accident date: 20-03-2017
type: Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II
registration: N158WA
accident date: 20-03-2017
type: Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II
registration: N158WA
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 20 March 2017 |
| Time: | 0.36195993423462 |
| Type: |  Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II |
| Operator: | Western Air Express |
| Registration: | N158WA |
| MSN: | TC-411 |
| First flight: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 28602 |
| Engines: | 2 Garrett TPE331-10UA |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Boise Air Terminal, ID (BOI) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Boise Air Terminal, ID (BOI/KBOI), United States of America |
| Denver-Centennial Airport, CO (APA/KAPA), United States of America |
A Swearingen SA226-TC, N158WA, was substantially damaged due to foreign object damage to the airplane's propeller and fuselage during initial takeoff/climb from Boise Air Terminal, Idaho, USA.
According to Federal Aviation Administration personnel, about the time the airplane was rotating from runway 10L, the pilot experienced a light vibration; he subsequently returned to BOI and landed uneventfully. During a post-landing examination of the airplane, it was revealed that a portion of the outboard section of a left propeller blade, which had fragmented into 2 pieces, was missing. Additionally, about a 4 inch by 4 inch puncture hole was observed to have gone through the left forward side of the fuselage just aft of the main air stair door; a piece of the propeller blade was found in the cabin. It was further noted during a runway sweep for foreign objects shortly after the occurrence, that a screw driver which had been used during maintenance on the airplane earlier, and the second piece of the propeller blade tip, were both recovered from the departure runway in the same approximate location from where the airplane would have rotated.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Company maintenance personnel's failure to remove a screwdriver that was left lodged in the windshield wiper area of the forward fuselage during maintenance and subsequently became dislodged on takeoff/initial climb and collided with a left propeller blade."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Runway mishap
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
accident date: 20-03-2017
type: Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II
registration: N158WA
accident date: 20-03-2017
type: Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II
registration: N158WA
accident date: 20-03-2017
type: Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II
registration: N158WA
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Boise Air Terminal, ID to Denver-Centennial Airport, CO as the crow flies is 1037 km (648 miles).
Distance from Boise Air Terminal, ID to Denver-Centennial Airport, CO as the crow flies is 1037 km (648 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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