Suspected sabotage, rock found in engine.

Attributes
ACN	104433
Time
Date	198902
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : twf
State Reference	ID
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	104433
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Flight abc was scheduled to depart twf for slc. At XA10 am, on our start of the right engine, our ground crew advised of a 'clicking' sound and flame out the right side. After both engines were running they saw nothing unusual and our cockpit engine instrument indications were normal. We received clearance to taxi to runway 7. On takeoff roll our target torque setting was 89% and our right engine was showing only 60%. As the power was trimmed forward the maximum temperature of 650 degrees was attained. The torque was still 60% and the takeoff aborted. The problem was found to be a rock in the right intake. It wa about 2 1/2' long and 1' high. The rock was placed under the shaft but not touching the impeller so that even rotating the propeller by hand and observing and listening, the rock was not observed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states sabotage is suspected only because of the size of rock and placement, so not able to notice on preflight. Sheriff was called to scene and FAA as well. No results of investigation to date. Engine had to be replaced. Security has been increased at airport perimeters.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SUSPECTED SABOTAGE, ROCK FOUND IN ENGINE.

Narrative: FLT ABC WAS SCHEDULED TO DEPART TWF FOR SLC. AT XA10 AM, ON OUR START OF THE RIGHT ENG, OUR GND CREW ADVISED OF A 'CLICKING' SOUND AND FLAME OUT THE RIGHT SIDE. AFTER BOTH ENGS WERE RUNNING THEY SAW NOTHING UNUSUAL AND OUR COCKPIT ENG INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAXI TO RWY 7. ON TKOF ROLL OUR TARGET TORQUE SETTING WAS 89% AND OUR RIGHT ENG WAS SHOWING ONLY 60%. AS THE PWR WAS TRIMMED FORWARD THE MAX TEMP OF 650 DEGS WAS ATTAINED. THE TORQUE WAS STILL 60% AND THE TKOF ABORTED. THE PROB WAS FOUND TO BE A ROCK IN THE RIGHT INTAKE. IT WA ABOUT 2 1/2' LONG AND 1' HIGH. THE ROCK WAS PLACED UNDER THE SHAFT BUT NOT TOUCHING THE IMPELLER SO THAT EVEN ROTATING THE PROP BY HAND AND OBSERVING AND LISTENING, THE ROCK WAS NOT OBSERVED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES SABOTAGE IS SUSPECTED ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF ROCK AND PLACEMENT, SO NOT ABLE TO NOTICE ON PREFLT. SHERIFF WAS CALLED TO SCENE AND FAA AS WELL. NO RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION TO DATE. ENG HAD TO BE REPLACED. SECURITY HAS BEEN INCREASED AT ARPT PERIMETERS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.