Lets get one thing straight! Losing a piece of a propeller blade IS a big deal. This could easily have been much, much worse! It is very possible for an aircraft engine to depart from the aircraft when it loses a prop blade. When a prop loses a blade the engine vibrates violently. There have been instances where the engine shakes itself from its mounts. Back in the 80's an EMB 120 aircraft had a prop separate from the engine. The engine shook so violently that it tore loose for its mounts. It did not depart from the aircraft but it just hung off the wing. this caused so much drag that the aircraft was unable to make it to an airport. They crashed in a field. Bahamasair was lucky they only lost a piece of a blade! Also, you have the possibility of the piece of prop that departs entering the passenger cabin. Not a good thing! Just ask the family of the tourist who was killed in Treasure Cay when a prop blade departed the engine and entered the passenger cabin. This is a serious problem.
I would like the Tribune to do a follow up story on this!! Was this one of the original Dash-8 aircraft bought new? Or, was this one of the used ones they purchased a few years ago?
These aircraft are all about 22-23 yrs old. I hope Bahamasair is inspecting ALL the other Dash-8s in the fleet!
To the good people at the Tribune, Please stay on top of this story to ensure that the proper inspections are done. Our lives & the lives of our family members are at stake!
FlyBoy says...
Lets get one thing straight! Losing a piece of a propeller blade IS a big deal. This could easily have been much, much worse! It is very possible for an aircraft engine to depart from the aircraft when it loses a prop blade. When a prop loses a blade the engine vibrates violently. There have been instances where the engine shakes itself from its mounts. Back in the 80's an EMB 120 aircraft had a prop separate from the engine. The engine shook so violently that it tore loose for its mounts. It did not depart from the aircraft but it just hung off the wing. this caused so much drag that the aircraft was unable to make it to an airport. They crashed in a field. Bahamasair was lucky they only lost a piece of a blade! Also, you have the possibility of the piece of prop that departs entering the passenger cabin. Not a good thing! Just ask the family of the tourist who was killed in Treasure Cay when a prop blade departed the engine and entered the passenger cabin. This is a serious problem.
I would like the Tribune to do a follow up story on this!! Was this one of the original Dash-8 aircraft bought new? Or, was this one of the used ones they purchased a few years ago?
These aircraft are all about 22-23 yrs old. I hope Bahamasair is inspecting ALL the other Dash-8s in the fleet!
To the good people at the Tribune, Please stay on top of this story to ensure that the proper inspections are done. Our lives & the lives of our family members are at stake!
On Nightmare in the sky
Posted 13 May 2013, 10:44 a.m. Suggest removal