Failures and lessons

Published investigation reports with a mechanical root cause, and what they mean for design.

Failures and lessons

TSB A23P0020: a compressor blade that fatigued in 909 cycles of a 20 000 cycle life

TSB Canada traced a PW150A compressor blade fracture to high-cycle fatigue at a 26 000 rpm resonance. Lessons on dwell time, tip clearance and cold-day stress.

29 Sep 2026 3 min read
Failures and lessons

TSB R23E0029: a 1991 railcar wheel, dirty steel and a shattered rim fatigue failure

TSB Canada found a 1991 freight wheel with oxides and voids up to 5.7 times the current limit grew subsurface fatigue cracks, shattered and derailed 18 cars.

29 Sep 2026 3 min read