A recent report from the Transportation Safety Board has revealed that a broken rotor blade led to an engine fire on a WestJet plane, resulting in an emergency landing at Kelowna Airport in British Columbia.
The incident involved a WestJet De Havilland Dash 8-400 en route to Calgary on March 3, 2023, carrying 74 passengers and four crew members. While cruising, the cockpit received an engine fire warning as one of the engines experienced a surge and subsequent fire in the exhaust duct.
Prompted by the emergency, the crew shut down the affected engine and safely landed the plane in Kelowna with one engine operational. Investigations discovered that a fractured rotor blade in the engine compressor caused the surge and power loss, leading to the engine control system increasing fuel flow and igniting the fire.
Following this incident, Pratt & Whitney Canada, De Havilland Aircraft, and WestJet Encore Ltd. have initiated inspections to prevent rotor blade failures and enhance safety measures. Subsequent inspections by WestJet identified two other engines with similar rotor blade issues.
This development highlights the importance of rigorous maintenance and safety protocols in the aviation industry to ensure passenger and crew well-being.
