Takeoff (climb)

After takeoff from Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed onto several houses located in Kingasani neighbourhood. A crew member survived while 21 other occupants and at least 28 people on ground were killed. The Ministry of Transport was sacked after the accident due to inability to reform all aviation problem existing in DRC. The present accident is the worst occurring in DRC since 8 January 1996 when an Antonov AN-32 crashed also in Kinshasa, killing 237 people.

The crew was scheduled to perform a geophysical survey flight for the government of Uganda between Entebbe and Masindi. Shortly after takeoff from Entebbe Airport runway 17, while climbing to a height of about 1,500 metres, the twin engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field. Both occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

The airplane's right engine experienced a complete loss of power immediately after takeoff and the airplane began to slow. The airplane reached an altitude of approximately 91 feet above ground level and then entered an uncontrolled descent consistent with the onset of a velocity minimum control (VMC) roll to the right. No evidence of any preimpact failures or malfunctions with either the engine or airframe was discovered, and evidence at the scene indicated that the landing gear had been retracted and the right engine propeller feathered. Examination of the cockpit revealed the right engine fuel selector was positioned between the "60 GAL RIGHT AUX" detent and the "RIGHT ENG OFF" detent. Examination of the fuel system between the selector and the right engine indicated that it was in this position prior to impact. Also, placards next to the fuel selectors stated, "WARNING POSITION SELECTORS IN DETENTS ONLY. NO FUEL FLOW TO ENGINES BETWEEN DETENTS." The pilot loaded the majority of the cargo and performed the weight and balance calculations. Examination of the fuselage revealed that all six cargo bins were full. The investigation also discovered that the furthest aft bin contained 265 pounds of cargo even though placarded for a maximum of 75 pounds. All other bins were loaded considerably below their maximum weight limits. Weight and balance calculations revealed the information listed on the weight and balance form produced by the pilot was erroneous and that the actual center of gravity (CG) of the airplane was rear of the aft CG limit, which would have created instability in the handling characteristics of the airplane, especially after a loss of engine power. In addition, the aft-of-limit CG would have increased the airspeed needed to prevent the airplane from entering a VMC roll. Performance calculations indicate that with the right engine having lost power immediately after takeoff, the airplane would most likely not have been able to continue the departure on one operating engine.

The airline transport pilot was departing in a twin engine turboprop airplane on a ferry flight from a remote lodge airstrip that was about 1,000 feet long and 40 feet wide. The airplane had previously received substantial damage to the nose wheel assembly on a previous flight to the airstrip. Repairs were made to the airframe, and the pilot was departing for a maintenance facility. The pilot had flown in and out of the airstrip on numerous occasions, but not in the accident type airplane. The lodge owner reported that the pilot started both engines and taxied the length of the airstrip, stopping momentarily several times. The pilot ran the engines for about 20 minutes, and then began a takeoff to the south. The airplane appeared to accelerate and remain on the centerline of the airstrip, but did not liftoff until the very end of the airstrip. The owner did not notice any unusual sounds or appearance of the engines. After liftoff, the wheels of the airplane struck and broke off the tops of trees and shrubs, that were about 6 to 7 feet above the ground. The airplane immediately veered to the right, and went out of the lodge owner's sight, but he continued to hear the airplane hitting trees until final impact. The airplane crashed in a shallow lake, coming to rest about 300 feet from shore, in about 5 feet of water. The entire cockpit area, forward of the wings, was torn off the airframe. The validity of any postaccident cockpit and instrument findings was unreliable due to the extensive damage to the cockpit. Likewise, structural damage to the airframe precluded determining wing flap settings during takeoff. Performance calculations indicated that the airplane's takeoff distance would have been about 950 feet, although the lodge owner said that in his experience, the accident airplane was capable of lifting off about half way down the airstrip without difficulty. The circumstances of the takeoff indicated that the left engine had been producing sufficient power to chop through several trees during the crash. Testing and inspection of the right engine was inconclusive, and although it was run on a test stand at reduced power, full power could not be attained due to ingestion of foreign material during the test run.

Few minutes after takeoff from Port-au-Prince Airport, the pilot attempted an emergency landing 10 km north of the capital city. Upon landing, the single engine aircraft overturned and came to rest upside down. It was damaged beyond repair and all 9 occupants escaped with minor injuries. It is believed that a door improperly closed was the cause of the accident. Later, the Haïti civil aviation authority decided to suspend the AOC of the operator until further notice following two accidents in 12 days.

The aircraft departed Bangalore-Hindustan Airport runway 27 at 1514LT on a flight to Cochin with 3 passengers and one pilot on board. Six minutes after takeoff, the pilot reported technical problems and elected to return for an emergency landing. However, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the lakebed of the Gawdanapalya Lake located about 9 km southwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

During the takeoff roll from San José-Juan Santamaria Airport runway 07, one of the tyre burst. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage, hit obstacles and came to rest near the perimeter fence. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after takeoff from Port-au-Prince-Toussaint Louverture Airport runway 10, while in initial climb, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Croix-des-Bouquets, about 5 km east of the airport, coming to rest upside down. A passenger was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

During the takeoff roll at La Ceiba-Goloson Airport, a tyre burst. The pilot rejected takeoff but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest 116 metres further. All nine passengers escaped uninjured while the pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After passengers were dropped at Curitiba-Afonso Pena Airport, the crew was returning to his base in Jundiaí. Shortly after takeoff from runway 11 by night and marginal weather conditions, the airplane entered clouds at an altitude of 300 feet and continued to climb. Following a left turn, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 700 feet then entered a right turn and an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in a field located near the Guatupê Police Academy located 3 km northeast of the airport. The accident occurred two minutes after takeoff. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to the night and a cloud base at 300 feet.