Team Looks For Pieces Of Mesa Jet's Engine
A team of National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) investigators, with assistance from other
parties, is investigating the uncontained engine failure on an
America West Express jet in the area near Denver, CO. The agency
says its seeking the engine components that fell from the airplane
in an effort to determine the cause of the event.
As ANN reported, on January
25, 2007, at 16:50 Mountain Standard Time, a CRJ200 (file photo of
type below) owned by Mesa Airlines, and operating as America
West Express Flight 2985, from Denver to Phoenix, AZ experienced an
uncontained engine failure while climbing through 24,000 feet. The
left engine cowling, fan, and other forward components separated
over sparsely populated mountainous terrain in an area beginning
just south of Woodland Park, CO and running south-southwest to 10
miles southwest of Cripple Creek, CO.
The jet's flight crew declared an emergency and immediately
returned for an uneventful landing at the Denver International
Airport at 17:30 Mountain Standard Time. None of the 54 passengers
and crew was injured. The aircraft itself sustained minor damage to
the fuselage, left engine pylon, and tail section during the engine
separation.
The NTSB has notified local officials in Teller County of the
incident, and that there could be engine debris on the ground in
their jurisdictions. The agency has requested those
officials, as well as other state and local agencies, assist in
locating the missing engine parts.
A radar analysis team assembled and gathered all FAA, company,
and military radar information. This information is being
correlated with data from the airplane's flight recorders in an
effort to pinpoint the potential locations of the engine parts.
Members of the public should contact the Teller County Sheriff's
Department (Telephone 719-687-9652) of the location, estimated
size, and description of the part or parts found. The NTSB warns
the parts could cause injuries if not handled with proper
precautions, and has asked the public to leave them where found for
investigators to retrieve.
Air safety investigator Jennifer Kaiser of the NTSB's Central
Mountain Region in Denver is leading the team there.
Members of the team include: NTSB engineers, Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) inspectors; Mesa Airlines; Bombardier Canada
(the airplane manufacturer); and General Electric Corporation (the
engine manufacturer).