Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) SF-340-A N742BA

Summary

On 17 August 1995 at about 22:27 local time, a Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) SF-340-A registered N742BA, operated by Business Express Airlines, was involved in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. 31 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 1995 at 22:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Philadelphia Intl (PHL)

Coordinates

39.8909, -75.2291

Aircraft

Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) SF-340-A

Registration

N742BA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Business Express Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Jamaica

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC95LA197

Nobody was injured.

the failure of a titanium hydraulic line, which resulted in an uncontained hydraulic fluid wing fire. A factor was the use of a procedure by the operator, approved by the FAA, but not approved by the airplane manufacturer, which resulted in compartment temperatures reaching 204 degrees C, where the failed line sprayed the hydraulic fluid.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The turboprop airplane was standing on the taxiway awaiting takeoff. The flightcrew had feathered the left propeller, and was using the left engine high-pressure bleed air for running the airplane's air conditioners. While standing, several warning lights illuminated, and the crew determined that they had a fire in the vicinity of the left engine. The engines were shut down, and the airplane was evacuated. Examination of the wing revealed that a titanium flap line, between the wing and flap panel, had failed for an undetermined reason. After the line separated, it broke two electrical wires, struck a bolt end, and the MIL-5606 hydraulic oil caught on fire. Flightcrews had experienced previous false bleed air leak lights. The airplane manufacturer stated that the compartment temperature where the fire erupted should have been no higher then 70 degrees C. The bleed air leak warning lights were activated by 204 degree C sensors. The MIL-5606 flash point was 110 degrees C. The use of a feathered engine to power air conditioners was the engine manufacturer's procedure. The procedure was not in the airplane manual, but was approved by the FAA Principal Operation Inspector.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.