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Damaged components have been found in the engine of a Rex Saab 340B that was forced to abort take-off at Adelaide Airport last year.
VH-ZPN was preparing to depart for Broken Hill on 8 October 2025 with two flight crew, one cabin crew and 23 passengers on board when its left engine failed during the take-off roll. As it was before the V1 decision speed, the pilots opted to abort the take-off and taxied off the runway.
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According to ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell, ATC identified “smoke or steam” from the failed engine, with aviation rescue fire fighting (ARFF) service trucks sent to attend the aircraft, while an airport worker spotted oil leaking from it.
“In response, the ground controller requested an inspection of the runway, which identified a small patch of oil,” said Mitchell.
“Concurrently, after ARFF advised the aircraft captain that the leaking fluid from the aircraft was oil, the crew decided to conduct a normal passenger disembarkation through the aircraft’s main forward left door, and the passengers were subsequently bussed to the terminal.”
The Saab’s left engine was sent to the UK for a teardown inspection, which confirmed that “damage was primarily associated with the power turbine module”.
“The damaged components have now been sent to the engine manufacturer, GE Aerospace, in the United States, for metallurgical examination, the pending results of which we will detail in our final report,” said Mitchell.
The ATSB has released an interim report into the incident, as investigations are still ongoing.
“The investigation is continuing and will include analysis of: flight crew operating procedures; air traffic control procedures; airport procedures; engine manufacturer metallurgical examination; and engine data,” the safety watchdog said.
“A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.”
Rex was last year purchased by American firm Air T, which has pledged to return more of its Saab 340B fleet to service; as of July, it had yet to increase the size of the operating fleet.
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