Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2B-27 Islander in Purisima del Maguey

Date & Time: Aug 22, 2013 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
XC-FEE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chihuahua – Zacatecas
MSN:
2022
YOM:
1980
Location:
Purísima del Maguey
Zacatecas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
4000
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Chihuahua-General Fierro Villalobos Airport at 1352LT on a flight to Zacatecas, carrying four passengers and one pilot. It continued to the south at an altitude of 11,500 feet and a speed of 120 knots. The flight was uneventful until the pilot started the descent to Zacatecas-General Leobardo C. Ruiz. when the left engine lost power then failed shortly later. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located near Purisima del Maguey, some 25 km northwest of Zacatecas Airport. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine due to fuel exhaustion.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Failure to apply the standard procedures relating to the quantity of fuel required as set out in the applicable regulations which were not provided to the crew by the operator.
- Poor flight preparation.
- Non-adherence to VFR rules.
- Lack of familiarity in the equipment on the part of the pilot when not receiving adequate training from the operator.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP near Vilyuisk

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2013 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
RA-01419
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vilyuisk - Kyubeinde-Ugulet
MSN:
1G230-59
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
PI9977
Location:
Vilyuisk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3973
Captain / Total hours on type:
480.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
374
Copilot / Total hours on type:
52
Aircraft flight hours:
7587
Aircraft flight cycles:
10148
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Vilyuisk Airport, on a schedule service (flight n° PI9977) to Kyubeinde-Ugulet, while cruising at an altitude of about 400 metres, the engine overheated and lost power while the oil pressure dropped. The crew decided to return to Vilyuisk when the engine failed shortly later. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a swampy area located 26 km northwest of Vilyuisk (at N63°54.584" E121°18.048"). The main wheels got stuck in soft ground, the engine was ripped off, and the aircraft came to rest, bursting into flames. Both pilots and all 9 passengers escaped uninjured and the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident with An-2Т RA-01419 aircraft was caused by emergency landing at the landing place in marsh area selected from air that resulted in main landing gear dipping in soft ground, dynamic pitch-down moment followed by engine ground impact and fuselage separation along engine mounting fitting, airframe structure and gear damage. Gasoline pipeline destruction during engine separation from aircraft frame and gasoline ingestion on the hot parts of power unit caused fire which almost completely destroyed the aircraft. Wrong PIC's actions who didn't turn off ignition and shut off fuel before aircraft landing could contribute to the fire. The emergency landing at the landing place selected from air was caused by oil temperature increase and pressure drop below specified by the aircraft FOM values in flight. It wasn't possible to determine the cause of temperature increase and oil pressure drop due to engine component substantial damage during fire.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2013 at 1023 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
C-GPVB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hesquiat Lake - Gold River
MSN:
871
YOM:
1956
Location:
Hesquiat Lake
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
17000
Circumstances:
At 1015 Pacific Daylight Time, the de Havilland DHC-2 (Beaver) floatplane (registration CGPVB, serial number 871), operated by Air Nootka Ltd., departed Hesquiat Lake, British Columbia, with the pilot and 5 passengers for Air Nootka Ltd.’s water aerodrome base near Gold River, British Columbia. Visibility at Hesquiat Lake was about 2 ½ nautical miles in rain, and the cloud ceiling was about 400 feet above lake and sea level. Approximately 3 nautical miles west of the lake, while over Hesquiat Peninsula, the aircraft struck a tree top at about 800 feet above sea level and crashed. Shortly after the aircraft came to rest, a post-crash fire developed. All 6 persons on board survived the impact, but the pilot and 1 passenger died shortly after. A brief 406 megahertz emergency locator transmitter signal was transmitted, and a search and rescue helicopter recovered the survivors at about 1600.
Probable cause:
Findings as to causes and contributing factors:
1. The pilot flew just above the tree tops into instrument meteorological conditions and rising terrain, and the aircraft struck a tree that was significantly taller than the others.
2. The pilot and 1 passenger did not exit the aircraft before it was consumed in the postimpact fire.
3. Air Nootka did not have effective methods to monitor its pilots’ in-flight decision making and associated practices. As a result, Air Nootka had no way to detect and correct unsafe behavior or poor decision making such as occurred on this flight.
Findings as to risk:
1. If aircraft are not fitted with technology to reduce fuel leakage or to eliminate ignition sources, the risk of post-impact fire is increased.
2. If aircraft are not equipped with shoulder harnesses for all seating positions then there is an increased risk of injuries.
3. If aircraft are not equipped with some alternate means of escape such as push-out windows, then there is a risk that post-crash structural deformation will jam doors shut and restrict exit for the occupants.
4. If companies operating under self-dispatch do not monitor their operations, they risk not being able to identify unsafe practices that are a hazard to flight crew and passengers.
5. If flight data recordings are not available to an investigation, this may preclude the identification and communication of safety deficiencies to advance transportation safety.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Canons Ashby

Date & Time: Aug 12, 2013 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-AAZG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Turweston - Turweston
MSN:
1253
YOM:
1930
Location:
Canons Ashby
Northamptonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
512
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was carrying out a local flight with a friend. The weather was good (CAVOK), with a westerly wind of about 12 to 15 kt. The passenger occupied the front cockpit and the pilot the rear. The engine started normally and the aircraft departed, climbing to an altitude of 1,200 ft. The pilot carried out two medium banked turns and a gentle wingover manoeuvre before entering another steep turn to the left. When established in the turn, the engine stopped and the aircraft entered a spin to the left. The pilot recovered from the spin but, due to the limited height available, could only pull out of the dive and carry out a forced landing in an isolated grass area, amongst trees and other obstacles. In doing so, the aircraft struck a ridge and furrow, which destroyed the landing gear and much of the forward fuselage. A member of the public witnessed the accident and called the emergency services, who recovered both occupants from the wreckage. The pilot and his passenger had suffered serious injuries and were transferred to hospital. There was no fire.The aircraft had recently been re-weighed. During that process, the fuel tank had been drained and the same fuel was then used to refill the tank. After that, the aircraft had flown some five hours, during which it had been refuelled twice at a licensed aerodrome. The second refuel had taken place prior to positioning the aircraft back to the private site from which the accident flight departed. It was reported that the engine had been consistently reliable. No reason for the engine failure was identified. The pilot considered that he had avoided a serious head injury because he was wearing a protective helmet. Also, he commented that he had since had discussions with others in the historic aircraft community regarding energy absorbing foam in seat pans and its potential for reducing the level of back injuries in the event of an accident.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Shijiazhuang Yunsunji Y-5B in Danfeng: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 2013
Type of aircraft:
Shijiazhuang Yunsunji Y-5
Operator:
Jingmen General Aviation Company
Registration:
B-8473
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Danfeng - Danfeng
MSN:
0101
YOM:
1989
Location:
Danfeng
Shaanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a crop spraying mission in the region of Danfeng. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft impacted tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area. While the captain was seriously injured, the copilot was killed.

Crash of a Cessna 207A Stationair 8 II in Mount Nicholas

Date & Time: Aug 2, 2013 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-LAW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
207-0723
YOM:
1981
Location:
Mount Nicholas
Otago Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission. In unknown circumstances, the single engine aircraft crashed in a prairie located near Mount Nicholas, between Queenstown and Te Anau, coming to rest upside down. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II near Merugwayi

Date & Time: Jul 30, 2013
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 404 Titan
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-DOC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Merugwayi - Arusha
MSN:
404-0433
YOM:
1979
Location:
Merugwayi
Arusha Region
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from a remote airstrip in Merugwayi, while flying in bad weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a wilderness located in Kapingiro, near Merugwayi. All seven occupants were injured, the copilot aged 23 seriously. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Among passengers were several doctors who provided medical services to locals leaving in the remote district.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Thorne Bay

Date & Time: Jul 24, 2013 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
N4787C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ketchikan – Shipley Bay
MSN:
1330
YOM:
1959
Location:
Thorne Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
19500
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Aircraft flight hours:
33326
Circumstances:
The pilot reported that, while the float-equipped airplane was in cruise flight about 1,200 ft above ground level, the engine made a loud noise and lost partial power, so he maneuvered the airplane to land on a nearby lake. During the approach, the engine lost total power, and the airplane descended into an area of trees before reaching the lake, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The operator reported that the engine had been overhauled (zero-timed) 31 hours before the accident. A postaccident engine examination revealed metal fragments and heavy gouging damage to the rotating components within the crankcase. The bottom portion (crankshaft end) of the n°1 linkrod and its respective bushing were missing from the n°1 linkpin; the oil sump contained metal debris consistent with heavily damaged remnants of these (and other) components. The n°2 cylinder barrel and linkrod and the n°3 linkrod showed deformation to the left (in the direction of engine rotation). Based on the damage observed in the engine, it is likely that the event that initiated the engine failure involved either the the n°1 linkrod bushing or the bottom portion of the n°1 linkrod; however, the extensive damage to these components precluded determination of the failure mode.
Probable cause:
The failure of the n°1 linkrod bushing or the bottom portion of the linkrod, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jul 21, 2013 at 0635 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Albatross Avia
Registration:
UR-ART
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G234-55
YOM:
1989
Location:
Pyatikhatki
Autonomous Republic of Crimea
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a crop spraying flight in the Krasnoperekopsk District of the autonomous Republic of Crimea. While flying at a height of about 35-40 metres, the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a rice paddy field near Pyatykhatki but the wheels got stuck in the soft ground and the aircraft nosed over, coming to rest upside down. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
A loss of engine power caused by the failure of the valve on cylinder n°9 that remained in open position due to an excessive deposit of calamine (soot).

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander on Perico Island

Date & Time: Jul 19, 2013 at 1234 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1338MF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Isla del Rey - Panama City
MSN:
818
YOM:
1977
Location:
Panama City
Panamá
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after he departed Isla del Rey Airport, while overflying the bay of Panama City, the pilot informed ATC about engine problems. Unable to reach Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, the pilot reduced his altitude and elected to make an emergency landing on the Perico Island, some 10 km south of Panama City Airport. After touchdown, the aircraft rolled for few dozen metres before coming to rest against a container. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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