Italy

Ground accident of an ATR42-300 in Rome

Date & Time: Mar 6, 2003 at 2050 LT

Type of aircraft:

ATR42-300

Operator:

Registration:

I-ATRF

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Rome - Rimini

MSN:

034

YOM:

1986

Flight number:

MTC403

Location:

Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci

Lazio

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7685

Captain / Total hours on type:

1159.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

740

Copilot / Total hours on type:

232

Aircraft flight hours:

27472

Aircraft flight cycles:

28492

Circumstances:

Following a normal taxi procedure at Rome-Fiumicino Airport, the crew was at the holding point of runway 25, ready for departure. On board were 42 passengers and a crew of three. Both engines were turning at 70% torque. When the crew released the brakes, the swinging lever of the left main gear failed. The aircraft sank on its belly and stopped. All 45 occupants evacuated safely and there were no injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the swinging lever of the left main gear due to the presence of fatigue cracks.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Jerago con Orago: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2002 at 1542 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Fematic Engineering

Registration:

HB-GFA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Nice - Locarno

MSN:

P-172

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

838

Aircraft flight hours:

1929

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport on a flight to Locarno, Ticino, with four people on board. While cruising over Milan at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the pilot was invited to change his frequency and to contact Locarno Tower. Forty-six seconds later, he declared an emergency and informed ATC that he lost an engine. He was cleared to descent for a landing on either runway 35L or 35R but the aircraft continued to the north so he was later cleared to land on either runway 17L or 17R. Suddenly, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent then nosed down and crashed in a near vertical attitude in a wooded area located in Jerago con Orago, about 8 km northeast of Milan-Malpensa Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed. There was no fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the right engine failed in flight, followed shortly later by the left engine. This was the consequence of a poor management of the fuel system on part of the pilot, especially regarding the fuel mixture that was not sufficiently rich. The pilot failed to maintain a sufficient speed and the aircraft stalled from a height that did not allow him to expect recovery.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter off Forte dei Marmi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 2002 at 1550 LT

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Europlane

Registration:

F-GLTP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Massa - Massa

MSN:

691

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1857

Captain / Total hours on type:

761.00

Aircraft flight hours:

8888

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft departed Massa-Cinquale Aerodrome with 10 skydivers and one pilot on board. Once the altitude of 13,000 feet was reached, all 10 skydivers jumped. During the descent, the aircraft became unstable, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea about 50 metres off Forte dei Marmi. The aircraft was totally destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The accident occurred due to a loss of control of the aircraft following the separation of the right wing, due to the structural failure produced at the sub-wing attack of the bracing section. In particular, in the light of what has been highlighted, it is believed that the accident was caused by a fatigue damage mechanism which, developed without being detected, significantly reducing the residual section of the right sub-alar attack of the trunk. This suddenly led to the structural failure of the right wing and the consequent loss of control of the aircraft that crashed in the sea.

Final Report: