A Raytheon Beech Kingair aircraft, registration VH-IWO, was
cruising at FL290 on an aero-medical flight from Newman to Fitzroy
Crossing, WA with the pilot, a flight nurse and a doctor on board.
When approximately 140 NM (259 km) south-south-east of Broome, the
right engine inter-turbine temperature indication (ITT) was
observed by the pilot to rise without any engine control input. The
ITT rise was accompanied by a slight fluctuation in a number of
associated engine indications. The pilot reduced power on the right
engine.
Shortly after the power reduction, there was a slight right
engine surge, with an accompanying rise in ITT. The pilot observed
smoke coming from the right engine exhaust. The pilot shut down and
secured the right engine and, after briefing the flight nurse and
doctor, diverted to Broome Airport where a single-engine landing
was completed.
Examination of the right engine revealed extensive damage caused
by the separation of one of the compressor turbine blades at mid
span.
As a result of this occurrence, the engine manufacturer has
modified the alerting feature in the case of the interruption of
the supply of electronic trend monitoring (ECTM) information to
customers from its automated ECTM program.