Incident Overview

Date: Friday 27 February 1987
Aircraft Type: British Aerospace BAe-146-200A
Owner/operator: Pacific Southwest Airlines – PSA
Registration Number: N356PS
Location: Fresno Air Terminal, CA (FAT) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 87
Component Affected: Number 4 Power Turbine WheelNumber 4 Power Turbine Wheel
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A flight experienced an uncontained engine failure on a Boeing 737-800, resulting in an unscheduled landing at Fresno Airport. The engine’s turbine blades damaged the number 4 power turbine wheel, leading to oil contamination and filter bypass. The contaminated oil caused overheating and damage to the turbine bearing, ultimately resulting in the turbine overspeeding and blade departure. The lack of proper maintenance inspection contributed to the failure.A flight experienced an uncontained engine failure on a Boeing 737-800, resulting in an unscheduled landing at Fresno Airport. The engine’s turbine blades damaged the number 4 power turbine wheel, leading to oil contamination and filter bypass. The contaminated oil caused overheating and damage to the turbine bearing, ultimately resulting in the turbine overspeeding and blade departure. The lack of proper maintenance inspection contributed to the failure.

Description

The flight was uneventful during takeoff and climb to an assigned cruise altitude of FL260. Approximately 40 minutes after takeoff the number 3 engine experienced an uncontained failure of the turbine blades on the number 4 power turbine wheel. Although debris from the engine penetrated the pressure vessel, the pilot made an unscheduled landing at Fresno Airport, California without further incident. Examination of the engine revealed that ferrous chips were contaminating, and oil was bypassing the engine oil filter for at least 40 days. However, no corrective action was taken by company maintenance personnel. The oil and filter were changed three times in the three months previous to the accident. The examination revealed that the contaminated oil contributed to the failure of the number four turbine bearing subsequently leading to overheating and damage to the overspeed sensors. The turbine oversped and the turbine blades departed the turbine disc. Probable cause: Failure of company maintenance personnel to adequately examine the engine lubrication system when contamination was detected.

Primary Cause

Failure of company maintenance personnel to adequately examine the engine lubrication system when contamination was detected.Failure of company maintenance personnel to adequately examine the engine lubrication system when contamination was detected.

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