Propeller strap missed during checks
A Saab 340 was started with a strap still attached to its left-hand propeller following a series of missed checks, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has found.
The Regional Express (Rex) Saab 340B, VH-OLL (c/n 340B-175), was being prepared for departure at Melbourne Airport on November 19, 2024. After the pilots started the engines, a passenger told the flight attendant (FA) that they had seen a strap restraining the left propeller before it began to spin. The FA advised the pilots, who shut down the engines. The propeller strap was then found attached to the propeller, with the pins that connect it to the engine cowling broken on start-up.