Cape Air, Nantucket Cancel Flights for Engine Problems

Sister airlines Cape Air and Nantucket cancelled flights aboard its 49 Cessna 402s through Friday as the result of three engine failures. The two companies hoped to be back in full operation by Sunday or Monday. Mechanics found an abnormally quick wear pattern on the engines that had in-flight shut downs. The airline notified the Federal Aviation Administration about the pattern as well as its plans to ground aircraft until they can be inspected. The cancellations impacted between 2,000 and 3,000 passengers bound from Boston to Hyannis, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, New Bedford, Providence and Provincetown. Alternate transportation – including bus and ferry tickets – were arranged for passengers. Two of the engine failures occurred over Memorial Day weekend while the third occurred on June 12, impacting a Logan-bound flight. President Dan Wolf said mechanics found a faster than normal wear pattern involving the counterweight on crankshaft, although they did not find a definitive cause for the failures. After 18 years of operation with no incidents, Wolf said the groundings were done in an abundance of caution based on the airline’s safety culture.