Shafted

As the aircraft climbed through FL190, the pilot reported a loss of power. An emergency descent was begun and an unscheduled landing was planned. Some power was restored as the airplane descended. On landing, inspection revealed the shaft between the turbocharger compressor and exhaust wheels had broken in two.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article details multiple critical mechanical failures across various aircraft types, predominantly involving shafts in key systems like turbochargers, braking mechanisms, and engine controls.
Causes for these failures were diverse, including component breakage and wear, corrosion due to environmental factors, manufacturing defects such as machining marks, and suspected improper installation.