In the first such incident for the General Electric CF34-3B1 engine, a Mesa Airlines (MESA) Bombardier (BBD) CRJ200LR experienced an uncontained engine failure in its number one engine aboard American West Express Flight 2985 as it was climbing through 24,000 feet headed to Phoenix from Denver. The crew declared an emergency and returned to Denver. There were no injuries and no evacuation was necessary.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the engine, which entered service in 1992. It put out a public call for return of the left engine cowling, fan, and other forward components which separated over sparsely populated mountainous terrain. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the fuselage, left engine pylon, and tail section. A radar analysis team has gathered all FAA, company, and military radar information. This information is being correlated with data from the airplane's flight recorders in an effort to pinpoint the potential locations of the engine parts.

The engines have been the subject of several recommendations lately. (RAN, January 15, Article Link). In-service GE engines of the type number more than 2,000, according to the company.

The NTSB team, led by NTSB Air Safety Investigator Jennifer Kaiser of the central Mountain Region in Denver, includes NTSB engineers, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors; Mesa Airlines; Bombardier Canada; and General Electric.