AVIATION/ SACAA REPORTS ON SA AIRLINK FL8911

The South African Civil Aviation Authority, SACAA, has released its 1st interim report into the crash of SA AIRLINK Flight 8911 at Durban, South Africa, on September 24, 2009. On that date, Flight 8911 was on a Jetstream 41 Posititioning Flight from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, with 2 Pilots and 1 Flight Attendant onboard. According to the interim report, shortly before it became airborne, a catastrophic failure occurred in the No.2 engine due to a fatigue failure of the 2nd stage rotating air seal. The aircraft then continued to climb to an altitude of about 500 feet, with smoke coming from the No.2 engine. ATC immediately notifired the crew of the smoke and another aircraft in the area stated there was significant smoke coming from the engine. Immediately after the crew raised the undercarriage, the No.1 engine spooled down from 100% to 0 within 7 seconds. The SACAA believes that the crew accidently shut down the wrong engine, believing that the No.1 engine was the problem engine. Moments later, the aircraft then crashed in a small school field within the Merebank residential area. All 3 crew members onboard Flight 8911 were critically injured in the crash, with the Captain dying of his injuries several days later. A groundskeeper at the school also suffered critical injuries in the crash, which destroyed the Jetstream. The investigation continues.