Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Vostochnaya: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 2013 at 1503 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-02203
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vostochnaya - Vostochnaya
MSN:
1G234-34
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5536
Captain / Total hours on type:
2710.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
61
Copilot / Total hours on type:
61
Aircraft flight hours:
3612
Aircraft flight cycles:
16267
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying flight on agricultural field in Vostochnaya, about 70 km northeast of Krasnodar. The day prior to the accident, the engine failed in flight and the crew made a forced landing in a field. As the carburetor was broken, it was replaced and an engine test run was performed. On 23 March, one minute after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 30 metres, the engine failed again. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in the Bakhotinski Lake, coming to rest upside down. The copilot escaped with minor injuries while the captain was killed. The wreckage was recovered three days later.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by its nosing during the emergency landing on water surface. The emergency landing was caused by the engine power loss and flameout in the air due to the destruction of the exhaust collector can type combustor and burn through of the carburetor intake valve followed by high temperature burnt gases ingestion into the engine carburetor intake. The destruction of the exhaust collector can type combustor most probably occurred on the corrosion mechanism energized in conditions of the material heat during the engine operation using motor petrol. Power factor resulted in initial crack formation most probably was caused by residual tenses in the material of manufacture origine caused during can type combustor manufacture. In accordance with the passport the latest can type combustor overhaul was performed on January 27, 2009 in "Shakhtinsky ARZ DOSSAAF" CJSC. The commission didn't find the actual confirmation of the can type combustor overhaul as the marking at the single remained label indicates that the specified section had overhaul at the plant n° 420GA in October 1983.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 off Los Roques: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 2013 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV2615
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Los Roques - Caracas
MSN:
20
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Los Roques Island Airport Runway 07 at 1132LT on a charter flight to Caracas, carrying four passengers and two pilots. During initial climb, the crew was cleared to climb to 6,500 feet. Seven minutes later, the crew informed ATC he was climbing to 5,000 feet and reported his position some 10 NM from Gran Roque VOR. While cruising at 5,400 feet at a speed of 120 knots, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants and all operations were abandoned after one week. The Italian couturier Vittorio Missoni was among the passenger. In June 2013, some debris were localized at a depth of 75 meters and five bodies were found on 17OCT2013. Eventually, the wreckage was recovered on 25NOV2013.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-120ER Brasília off Moroni

Date & Time: Nov 27, 2012 at 1329 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D6-HUA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moroni - Ouani
MSN:
120-149
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
INZ170
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5000
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Moroni-Hahaya-Iconi-Prince Saïd Ibrahim Airport to the Ouani Airport located on the neighboring island of Anjouan. Shortly after take off from runway 20, while in initial climb, the captain informed ATC about technical problem and elected to return. He realized he could not make it so he attempted to ditch the aircraft some 200 metres off shore, about 5 km from the airport. All 29 occupants were rescued, among them five were slightly injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-46R-350T Matrix off Jacarepaguá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 2012 at 1935 LT
Registration:
PT-FEM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jacarepaguá – Campo de Marte
MSN:
46-92158
YOM:
2010
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Jacarepaguá Airport, the single engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea. Few debris were found several days later. The pilot's body was found on September 4 on a beach in Barra de Tijuca. The wreckage and the copilot's body were never found. It was reported that the crew did not activate the transponder after takeoff and did not contact ATC for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter off Granville

Date & Time: Aug 18, 2012 at 1855 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-GMJG
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Granville - Granville
MSN:
659
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
13300
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Granville-Bréville Aerodrome on a local skydiving mission. After all skydivers left the aircraft, the pilot reduced his altitude to return to his base. On final approach to runway 07, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea, few dozen metres offshore. A sailor went quickly to the scene and evacuated the pilot who was slightly injured while the aircraft sank by a depth of 5-6 metres. The wreckage was recovered and pulled on the beach a day later. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo C off Jacarepaguá

Date & Time: Jul 24, 2012 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-WOT
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacarepaguá - Jacarepaguá
MSN:
31-7912021
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a survey flight off the State of Rio de Janeiro and departed Jacarepaguá-Roberto Marinho Airport in the afternoon. While returning to his base, the pilot encountered problems and decided to ditch the aircraft. The airplane came to rest few hundred metres offshore. All three occupants were rescued and the aircraft sank.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-121A1 Xingu II off Angra dos Reis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 2012 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-MAB
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belo Horizonte - Angra dos Reis
MSN:
121-007
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2735
Captain / Total hours on type:
2065.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1820
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1283
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Belo Horizonte-Pampulha Airport on a charter flight to Angra dos Reis, carrying one passenger and two pilots. On approach to Angra dos Reis, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a cold front approaching the area. On short final, while completing a right turn at low height, the right wing struck the water surface and the aircraft crashed in the sea, some 500 metres offshore. The wreckage was found 3 km from the airport. All three occupants were killed and aircraft was destroyed. Visibility was low at the time of the accident with heavy rain falls, low clouds and turbulences. The passenger was the local representative of the Mercedes Benz Group.
Probable cause:
The collision with water and the subsequent accident was the consequence of the decision of the crew to continue the approach at low altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited and weather conditions were marginal.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R near Two Harbors: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 2012 at 1427 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N174BH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
South Saint Paul - South Saint Paul
MSN:
31-7612038
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On June 8, 2012, about 1307 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31-325, N174BH, departed from the South St Paul Municipal Airport-Richard E Fleming Field (SGS), South St Paul, Minnesota for a maintenance test flight. The airplane reportedly had one of its two engines replaced and the pilot was to fly for about 4 hours to break-in the engine. The airplane did not return from the flight and was reported overdue. The airplane is missing and is presumed to have crashed. The airline transport pilot has not been located. The airplane was registered to Family Celebrations LLC, and was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed SGS with the intention of returning to SGS at the conclusion of the flight. The airplane was reported missing and an alert notification issued about 2225. The last reported contact with the airplane and pilot was about 1300 when the fixed base operator at SGS towed the airplane to the fuel pumps. When he returned about 15 minutes later, the airplane was no longer there. Aircraft radar track data from various ground based sources indicated that the airplane departed SGS about 1307. The airplane maneuvered east of SGS before turning toward the north. The airplane's track continued north toward Duluth, Minnesota. Once the airplane reached Duluth, it followed the west shoreline of Lake Superior. Radar track data indicated that the airplane was at a pressure altitude of 2,800 feet when it reached the shoreline. The airplane continued along the west shoreline toward Two Harbors, Minnesota, flying over the water while maintaining a distance of about 0.5 miles from the shore. As the airplane approached Two Harbors, it descended. The airplane's last recorded position at 1427 was about 30 miles northeast of Duluth, Minnesota, at an uncorrected pressure altitude of 1,600 feet. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center coordinated a search for the missing airplane. The Civil Air Patrol, United States Coast Guard, and other entities participated in the search efforts. Search efforts were suspended on July 4, 2012.
Probable cause:
Undetermined because the airplane was not found
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III off Montevideo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 2012 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CX-LAS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Montevideo - Buenos Aires
MSN:
AC-482
YOM:
1982
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
16177
Copilot / Total flying hours:
406
Aircraft flight hours:
26158
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Montevideo to Buenos Aires on behalf of DHL. The aircraft departed runway 24 at Montevideo-Carrasco Airport at 1945LT and the crew was cleared to climb to FL080. While reaching a height of 4,500 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea at a speed of 570 knots which caused its disintegration off Flores Island. Few debris were found the following day floating on water but the main wreckage was localized two weeks later about one NM south of Flores Island. The CVR was found on 02AUG2012 but was unreadable as the content was concerning the last 30 minutes of the precedent flight. On 11FEB2013, fishermen found the cargo door in their fishnet. No trace of the cargo nor the crew was ever found.
Probable cause:
Investigations determined that both engines were running normally at impact, that no propeller blades were lost during descent, that fuel was not contaminated and that no problems occurred on the on electrical system. Meteorological Office confirmed that severe icing conditions prevailed at the time of the accident between FL010 and FL150. The loss of control was the consequence of erroneous indications of the flight instruments, associated with the possible formation of crystalline ice on the aircraft' structure, causing a loss of situational awareness of the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Lillabelle Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 2012 at 1408 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FGBF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Edgar Lake - Lillabelle Lake
MSN:
168
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1100
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Aircraft flight hours:
22000
Circumstances:
The Cochrane Air Service de Havilland DHC-2 Mk.1 Beaver floatplane (registration C-FGBF, serial number 168) departed Edgar Lake, Ontario, with 2 passengers and 300 pounds of cargo on board. The aircraft was destined for the company’s main base located on Lillabelle Lake, Ontario, approximately 77 miles to the south. On arrival, a southwest-bound landing was attempted across the narrow width of the lake, as the winds favoured this direction. The pilot was unable to land the aircraft in the distance available and executed a go-around. At 1408, Eastern Daylight Time, shortly after full power application, the aircraft rolled quickly to the left and struck the water in a partially inverted attitude. The aircraft came to rest on the muddy lake bottom, partially suspended by the undamaged floats. The passenger in the front seat was able to exit the aircraft and was subsequently rescued. The pilot and rear-seat passenger were not able to exit and drowned. The emergency locator transmitter activated on impact.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. On the windward side of the landing surface, there was significant mechanical turbulence and associated wind shear caused by the passage of strong gusty winds over surface obstructions.
2. During the attempted overshoot, the rapid application of full power caused the aircraft to yaw to the left, and a left roll quickly developed. This movement, in combination with a high angle of attack and low airspeed, likely caused the aircraft to stall. The altitude available to regain control before striking the water was insufficient.
3. The pilot survived the impact, but was unable to exit the aircraft, possibly due to difficulties finding or opening an exit. The pilot subsequently drowned.
4. The rear-seat passenger did not have a shoulder harness and was critically injured. The passenger’s head struck the pilot’s seat in front; this passenger did not exit the aircraft and drowned.
Findings as to Risk:
1. Without a full passenger safety briefing, there is increased risk that passengers may not use the available safety equipment or be able to perform necessary emergency functions in a timely manner to avoid injury or death.
2. Not wearing a shoulder harness can increase the risk of injury or death in an accident.
3. Not having a stall warning system increases the risk that the pilot may not be aware of an impending aerodynamic stall.
4. Commercial seaplane pilots who do not receive underwater egress training are at increased risk of being unable to exit the aircraft following a survivable impact with water.
Final Report: