REX facing new probes over flight incidents

REX is facing new investigations over in-flight incidents just weeks after its operations were audited.

In October 2018 a REX-operated SAAB 340 aircraft lost a propeller on a flight to Sydney. Picture: Grahame Hutchison.

Weeks after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority audited the main engineering depot of Regional Express Airlines, two investigations have been launched into incidents involving the carrier.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has begun “short” investigations into a landing wheel failure in Adelaide on August 20, and an in-flight engine shutdown near Merimbula on August 29.

In the case of the engine shutdown, flight crew were responding to a right engine fire warning in the SAAB 340. Passengers reported seeing sparks, but Rex has denied the engine did catch fire following inspections of the aircraft.

The flight landed safely in Merimbula and no-one on board was injured.

In the other incident at Adelaide Airport, a SAAB 340 was taxiing for takeoff when the outer wheel on the left main landing gear fractured.

Crew were unaware this had occurred until they landed in Port Lincoln and noticed the left outer tyre had deflated and detected the wheel damage.

A piece of wheel rim was found on the apron in Adelaide.

The ATSB will interview flight crews in the course of the investigations, review recorded data and inspect maintenance records.

Both investigations are expected to be completed by the end of March next year.

Should a critical safety issue be identified, the ATSB will notify relevant parties so appropriate action can be taken.

The CASA audit of the Rex maintenance depot in July found no “current issues” with the safety of the airline’s aircraft.

Rex maintains a fleet of more than 50 SAAB 340 aircraft which are used on some 1500 weekly flights to more than 60 destinations in Australia.