Fokker F27MK 600 accident near Port Townsend, Washington, April 17, 2003
On April 17, 2003 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Fokker F27MK 600, registered N730FE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Townsend, Washington. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the accessory drive shaft due to deterioration of bearing number 1 in the aft fork of the universal joint for undetermined reasons during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2003 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Townsend, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fokker F27MK 600
- Registration
- N730FE · no longer on the register · serial 10386
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After initiating their descent the crew heard a "thunk" sound from the left side of the aircraft, followed by the gearbox LOW OIL PRESSURE warning light illuminating. After consulting the Quick Reference Handbook, the left engine was shut down, the crew declared an emergency, and a single-engine landing was made at the destination airport without incident. Subsequent examination by maintenance personnel revealed that the #1 engine drive shaft had failed at the universal joint connection area on the gear side of the engine, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The left engine's accessory drive shaft assembly, including the forward and aft universal joints, were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory Division, Washington, D.C., for examination. The examination revealed that the accessory drive shaft failed due to deterioration of bearing number 1 in the aft fork of the joint. This failure led to frictional heating for some time and off-axis rotation that eventually allowed the spider journal to slip out of the bearing cup at bearing number 3, leading to the rapid separation of the joint. The cause for the number 1 bearing failure is unknown.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,134 hours in all; 880 in this make and model; 1,970 as pilot in command; 782 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50,151.9 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 16, 2003; 7.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 45,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce Dart 532-7R (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce Dart 532-7R (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Empire Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KTN Ketchikan AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: SEA Seattle WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from CLM, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.