Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Shoyna

Date & Time: Sep 24, 2014 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-02322
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Shoyna – Arkhangelsk
MSN:
1G239-26
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
OAO718
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Shoyna Airport on a regular schedule service to Arkhangelsk-Vaskovo Airport, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. At liftoff, the aircraft banked right, causing the right lower wing to struck the ground. The right main gear was torn off upon impact. Out of control, the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in a grassy area. All 10 occupants were rescued, among them three were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the crew encountered strong cross winds upon takeoff.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Araracuara: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 2014 at 1505 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4755
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Araracuara – Florencia
MSN:
31-7952044
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
792
Captain / Total hours on type:
523.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
211
Aircraft flight hours:
14601
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Araracuara Airport runway 09 at 1503LT on a charter flight to Florencia, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. During initial climb, the right engine failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a wooded area. The wreckage was found 8,2 km from the airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed, among them a Swiss citizen.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb following the failure of the right engine for undetermined reasons.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew failed to follow the published procedures when the right engine failed,
- The aircraft was likely operated with a total weight above MTOW,
- A poor risk assessment while performing an operation outside of the aircraft's performance limits.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BK in Tamanrasset: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 2014 at 0244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-DWF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Glasgow – Ghardaïa – Tamanrasset – Malabo
MSN:
8 3 458 02
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
UKL4061
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Glasgow-Prestwick to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, with intermediate stops in Ghardaïa and Tamanrasset. On board were seven crew members and a load consisting of oil equipment. About three minutes after takeoff from Tamanrasset-Aguenar-Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport, radio contact was lost when the aircraft crashed in a mountainous terrain located some 15 km south of the airport. The wreckage was found few hours later. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven crew members (six Ukrainians and one Russian) were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Las Cruces: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 2014 at 1903 LT
Registration:
N51RX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Las Cruces – Phoenix
MSN:
421C-0871
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2432
Captain / Total hours on type:
52.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8181
Circumstances:
According to the line service technician who worked for the fixed-base operator (FBO), before taking off for the air ambulance flight with two medical crewmembers and one patient onboard, the pilot verbally asked him to add 40 gallons of fuel to the airplane, but the pilot did not specify the type of fuel. The line service technician drove a fuel truck to the front of the airplane and added 20 gallons of fuel to each of the multiengine airplane's wing tanks. The pilot was present during the refueling and helped the line service technician replace both fuel caps. Shortly after takeoff, a medical crewmember called the company medical dispatcher and reported that they were returning to the airport because smoke was coming from the right engine. Two witnesses reported seeing smoke from the airplane Several other witnesses reported seeing or hearing the impact and then immediately seeing smoke or flames. On-scene evidence showed the airplane was generally eastbound and upright when it impacted terrain. A postimpact fire immediately ensued and consumed most of the airplane. Investigators who arrived at the scene the day following the accident reported clearly detecting the smell of jet fuel. The airplane, which was equipped with two reciprocating engines, should have been serviced with aviation gasoline, and this was noted on labels near the fuel filler ports, which stated "AVGAS ONLY." However, a postaccident review of refueling records, statements from the line service technician, and the on-scene smell of jet fuel are consistent with the airplane having been misfueled with Jet A fuel instead of the required 100LL aviation gasoline, which can result in detonation in the engine and the subsequent loss of engine power. Postaccident examination of the engines revealed internal damage and evidence of detonation. It was the joint responsibility of the line technician and pilot to ensure that the airplane was filled with aviation fuel instead of jet fuel and their failure to do so led to the detonation in the engine and the subsequent loss of power during initial climb.In accordance with voluntary industry standards, the FBO's jet fuel truck should have been equipped with an oversized fuel nozzle; instead, it was equipped with a smaller diameter nozzle, which allowed the nozzle to be inserted into the smaller fuel filler ports on airplanes that used aviation gasoline. The FBO's use of a small nozzle allowed it to be inserted in the accident airplane's filler port and for jet fuel to be inadvertently added to the airplane.
Probable cause:
The misfueling of the airplane with jet fuel instead of the required aviation fuel, and the resultant detonation and a total loss of engine power during initial climb. Contributing to the accident were the line service technician's inadvertent misfueling of the airplane, the pilot's inadequate supervision of the fuel servicing, and the fixed-base operator's use of a small fuel nozzle on its jet fuel truck.
Final Report:

Crash of a HESA IrAn-140-100 in Tehran: 40 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 2014 at 0921 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EP-GPA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tehran – Tabas
MSN:
90-05
YOM:
2008
Flight number:
SPN5915
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Captain / Total flying hours:
9478
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
572
Copilot / Total hours on type:
400
Aircraft flight hours:
1405
Aircraft flight cycles:
1058
Circumstances:
On August 10,2014, at 04:52 UTC daylight time, an AN-140-100 aircraft , Iranian registration EP-GPA ( MSN 90-05), operated by Sepahan Airlines flight # 5915, experienced engine number 2 shutdown just about 2 seconds before lift-off and crashed shortly after take-off nearby Mehrabad International Airport (THR), TEHRAN; IR. Of IRAN; the aircraft was on lift off from runway 29L. The airplane was completely destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire. Fatality incorporates 34 of the 40 passengers; 4 of the 4 flight attendants, and 2 of the 2 flight crewmembers. The 11 passengers received serious injuries, which finally as a result of that accident there are 40 fatalities and 8 passengers recovered from injury. Sepahan Airline was operating under the provisions of CAO.IRI operational requirement for commercial air transport. Before the accident flight the airplane dispatch from Isfahan and arrived at Tehran about 03:30. The dispatcher and PIC perform the load calculation using the aircraft FM performance charts. Because of load limitation for 15° flap position, load sheet change and re-write with 10° flap position and re-calculated MTOM. The aircraft was enrouted to Airport Tabbas Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. Figure 1 below is a map showing the location of the accident and the aircraft flight path. Figure 2 shows THR runway 29L SID and figure 3 show timeline of event in the flight path. According to overview of flight crew performance, it is indicated that the crewmembers were provided with the flight release paperwork, which included weather information, notices to airmen (NOTAM), and the flight plan.
Probable cause:
The accident investigation team determined that the main cause of this accident was combination of:
1. Electronic engine control (SAY-2000) failure simultaneously with engine No: 2 shutdown, just about 2 seconds before aircraft lift-off.
2. AFM Confusing performance chart resulted the pilots relying on performance calculation that, significantly over-estimate the aircraft MTOM.
Contributing Factors to the accident were:
1. Aircraft flight manual unclear procedure, including the procedure for calculating maximum allowable take-off weight, VR and V2 and ambiguity in the climb segment definition and applications.
2. Crew performance, including:
- PIC rotated the aircraft at the speed of about 219 km/h (whereas 224 km/h is the speed recommended by the AFM table 4.2.3),
- The crew failed to perform the manual propeller feathering procedure for the failed engine,
- The PIC's decision to fly with the aircraft, notwithstanding, had about 190 kgf overweight,
- Aircraft fuel was about 500 kg more than required fuel for the accident flight.
3. The appearance of negative thrust from the unfeathered propeller blades at takeoff were not considered during the aircraft certification tests, as it was considered improbable. However, in
the accident flight the negative thrust did appear and affected the flight performance.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Prototskiye

Date & Time: Aug 6, 2014 at 0715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-17890
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prototskiye - Prototskiye
MSN:
1G205-31
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
7503
Aircraft flight cycles:
38974
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission on rice paddy field located in Prototskiye (Krasnoarmeisk district of the Krasnodar region). Two minutes after takeoff, while flying at a height of about 50 metres, the engine lost power. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft nosed over and came to rest upside down, some 2 km east of Prototskiye. Those parts of the fuselage which were above the water were consumed by the erupting fire and both pilots escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
The accident with An-2 RA-17890 aircraft was caused by its nosing-over during the emergency landing at the submerged rice bay. The emergency landing was due to the engine power loss in flight caused by the destruction of the can type combustor of the exhaust collector and burnout of the carburetor intake valve with the following high-temperature gases ingestion in the intake areas of the engine carburetor. The fatigue destruction of the can type combustor of the exhaust collector was caused along the main crack near the intake flex socket, it started from the surface of the damaged inlet port under the tube attachment pin towards the exhaust collector. By the moment of the main crack formation both inlet ports in left can type combustor under the tube attachment pin towards the exhaust collector had intolerable damage and size. During the last overhaul of the engine exhaust system of An-2 RA-17890 aircraft the left can type combustor had intolerable damage in its attaching lug to the exhaust collector which wasn't eliminated. The destruction of the inlet port valve was caused by the fusion of the boundaries of it material grains in conditions of acute temperature exposure induced by the destruction of the left can type combustor wall towards the main crack. Inadequate material (aluminum alloy D-16) of the valve specified by the drawing of aluminum allow AL-9T contributed to the valve destruction.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Foz do Iguaçu

Date & Time: Jul 28, 2014 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PT-TAW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Foz do Iguaçu - Curitiba
MSN:
110-258
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Foz do Iguaçu-Cataratas Airport, while climbing, the crew reported technical problems and elected to return. The crew realized he could not make it so he attempted an emergency landing in a corn field. Upon landing, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. Among the four occupants, one passenger was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu in Clayton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2014 at 0850 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N248SP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Clayton - Aurora
MSN:
46-8608024
YOM:
1986
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4200
Aircraft flight hours:
3593
Circumstances:
The pilot was departing the private, fly-in community airport on a personal flight. He was familiar with the airport/fly-in community and was instrumental in its development. Fog was present at the time, and, according to witnesses, it was "rolling up the valley," which was a frequent event at the airport. The witnesses observed the airplane lift off the runway, drift to the left, and disappear into the fog with the landing gear extended. They heard the engine running normally, with no change in sound, until the crash. They heard two distinct "booms" about 4 to 6 seconds apart. They ran down to the departure end of the runway to look for a crash site and could not see the wreckage or any smoke or fire due to the fog. The wreckage was located on elevated terrain in a heavily wooded area, about 1,500 feet north of the departure end of the runway. The elevation at the crash site was about 250 feet higher than the elevation at the departure end of runway. A swath through the treetops leading to the main wreckage was indicative of a near-level flight path at impact. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure. A review of the weather by a NTSB meteorologist revealed that the departure airport was at the edge of an area of low-topped clouds. Airport remarks included "Mountainous terrain all quadrants."
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to begin a flight with fog and low clouds present at the airport, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions immediately after takeoff and a controlled flight into terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Saint John Harbour

Date & Time: Jul 11, 2014 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FFRL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
St John Harbour - Sandspit
MSN:
482
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Saint John Harbour, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed on the shore of the Athlone Island, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Częstochowa: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 2014 at 1611 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N11WB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Częstochowa - Częstochowa
MSN:
31P-7630005
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
996
Captain / Total hours on type:
40.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a series of skydiving flights at Częstochowa-Rudniki Airport, Silesia. It took off from runway 26C with 11 skydivers and one pilot on board. During initial climb, at an altitude of 100 metres, the pilot encountered technical problems with the engines and elected to make an emergency landing. He informed the passengers about the emergency situation and reduced his altitude when the aircraft rolled to the left to an angle of 70° then stalled and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found 4,200 metres past the runway end. Three skydivers were seriously injured while 9 other occupants were killed. Few minutes later, two of the survivors died from their injuries.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The aircraft was operated without a valid CofA,
- Failure of the left engine during initial climb after the crankshaft failed, causing the malfunction of the propeller that could not be feathered, resulting in an asymmetry that caused the aircraft to enter a stall condition. Damages to the pin clutch connecting the crankshaft to the drive shaft of the right engine transmission could be due to the following causes: an earlier impact of a propeller's blade with an obstacle, in circumstances and time which could not be determined and/or a long-term fatigue process caused by uneven engine operation (one of the cylinders was replaced on the right engine),
- Improper maintenance of the aircraft,
- The left engine was producing low power due to improper operation,
- The fuel in the tanks did not meet the engine manufacturer's requirements,
- The aircraft was modified in violation of its Type Certificate,
- A high ambiant temperature.
Final Report: