AAIB investigation to Saab 340B, ES-NSD

Failure of left engine condition lever control cable during climb, Carlisle Airport, Cumbria, 30 August 2019.

Summary:

During the climb the commander was unable to adjust the propeller rpm on the left engine. The engine was shut down and the aircraft landed without further incident. Inspection of the left engine revealed that the condition lever control cable was damaged, probably as a result of chafing against the accessory gearbox. A service bulletin published in 1988 provided instructions to fit chafing protection in this area. The aircraft maintenance records did not indicate that the service bulletin had been performed on ES-NSD, but photographs of the damaged cable showed that the chafing protection had been fitted. However, it was not in the correct location and would not have provided the intended protection. It was not established how this occurred.

Following the incident the operator introduced a periodic inspection of the engine control cables in its maintenance programme and the aircraft manufacturer took action to update the aircraft maintenance manual.

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Saab 340B, ES-NSD 08-20

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Glossary of abbreviations

Published 13 August 2020