Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Sheffield

Date & Time: Sep 15, 2009 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N336DN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Farmingdale - Saratoga Springs
MSN:
208-0001
YOM:
1985
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3100
Captain / Total hours on type:
25.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10182
Circumstances:
The pilot and the five passengers, who were employees of an industrial services company, were returning from a job site with hazardous materials used for blasting operations. The airplane was in a climb, at an altitude of 8,500 feet, when it experienced a catastrophic engine failure. The pilot declared an emergency and subsequently performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane's right wing struck a tree and separated. All occupants exited the airplane without injury; however, the airplane became fully engulfed in fire, which consumed the majority of the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a turbine engine that, at the time of the accident, had been operated for about 7,620 hours since new and 65 hours since it was overhauled about 19 months prior to the accident. Impact damage was observed to the interior of the engine exhaust duct. In addition, the exhaust duct contained portions of a fractured power turbine blade. Additional examination of the engine revealed damage consistent with a distressed 1st stage sun gear, and associated compressor turbine and power turbine damage. Examination of the sun gear teeth output splines revealed that they were too damaged to determine the cause of their deterioration. It was noted that the sun gear found on the accident engine was previously removed from another engine due to "spalled gear teeth" about 7 years prior to the accident. The condition of the sun gear when installed on the accident engine could not be determined.
Probable cause:
A total loss of engine power due to a failure of the 1st stage sun gear output splines for unknown reasons, which resulted in a power turbine overspeed condition, with subsequent blade distress/release.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Sep 9, 2009
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
UR-70427
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Onikeyevo - Onikeyevo
MSN:
1G143-06
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew took off from a road located in Onikeyevo, Kirovograd oblast. After liftoff, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed near a farm, bursting into flames. Both pilots and the passenger, the owner of the farm, escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It appears that the flight was illegal as the CofA expired 26 April 2008.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a GAF Nomad N.24A in Long Apung: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 2009 at 1428 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P-837
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Long Bawan - Tarakan
MSN:
135
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Long Apung. Five occupants were killed while four others were seriously injured.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BK in Brazzaville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 2009 at 0500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
TN-AIA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pointe-Noire – Brazzaville
MSN:
6 3 446 07
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Pointe-Noire Airport at 0400LT on a cargo flight to Brazzaville, carrying one passenger, five crew members and a load consisting of food, one minibus and three cars. On final approach by night to Brazzaville-Maya Maya Airport, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed near Nganga Lingolo, 11 km short of runway 05. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Minidoka

Date & Time: Aug 13, 2009 at 1541 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N99BE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pocatello – Boise
MSN:
P-132
YOM:
1970
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
800.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3120
Circumstances:
The pilot reported that he planned to fly a round trip cross-country flight. Prior to takeoff, he ascertained the quantity of fuel on board based upon the airplane's fuel totalizer gauge indication, which indicated 89 gallons. The flight to the destination was uneventful, and upon landing, 20 gallons of fuel was purchased. Thereafter, the pilot departed for the return flight back to his originating airport. According to the pilot, on takeoff the fuel tank gauges indicated the tanks were between 1/3 and 1/4 full. While cruising, the pilot contacted an air traffic control facility and notified them that he had lost power in one engine. About 5 minutes later, the pilot broadcasted that both engines were without power. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the pilot landed on soft, uneven terrain. During rollout, the airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. The calculated post accident fuel burn-off for the round trip flight was about 106 gallons. During the post accident inspection, an FAA inspector reported finding an estimated 2 gallons of fuel in one tank. The other tank was dry. No fuel was observed in the main fuel lines to the engines, and no mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot.
Probable cause:
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45J Expeditor in Verdel: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 2009 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6688
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7085
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The private pilot/owner and a passenger were transporting the pilot's multi-engine airplane to another airport so it could undergo an annual inspection. Shortly after departure, the right engine began to vibrate violently and the pilot elected to make a forced landing to a pasture. The airplane caught on fire and both radial engines separated from the airframe and sustained impact damage. The pilot was not rated by the FAA to operate multi-engine airplanes and he had not received any formal training in the airplane. The accident flight was his first time flying the airplane by himself. The airplane had not received an annual inspection in approximately 8 years prior to the accident. Examination of the right engine revealed extensive mechanical damage possibly due to a connecting rod failure.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper decision to fly an airplane that was not airworthy and for which he was not properly rated to operate, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during a forced landing to a field following an engine failure. Contributing to the accident was the failed cylinder connecting rod.
Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154M near Qazvin: 168 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 2009 at 1133 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EP-CPG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tehran - Yerevan
MSN:
87A-748
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
RV7908
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
156
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
168
Aircraft flight hours:
26593
Aircraft flight cycles:
16248
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Tehran-Imam Khomeiny Airport at 1117LT on a regular schedule flight to Yerevan, carrying 158 passengers and 10 crew members. Sixteen minutes after takeoff, while cruising over Qazvin at FL340, the aircraft suddenly changed its heading to 270° and then entered a rapid descent, losing 20,000 feet in 90 seconds. In a near vertical attitude, the aircraft crashed in an open field, causing a large crater. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 168 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the first stage of the high compressor disk on the left engine while the aircraft was flying at FL340, due to fatigue cracks. Debris punctured the engine nacelle, and several hydraulic and fuel lines were cut while all control systems were unserviceable. A huge fire spread on the left side of the airplane and the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent until impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-12/45 in Raphine: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 2009 at 1002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N578DC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Teterboro - Tampa
MSN:
570
YOM:
2004
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1873
Captain / Total hours on type:
715.00
Aircraft flight hours:
723
Circumstances:
While in instrument meteorological conditions flying 800 feet above the airplane’s service ceiling (30,000 feet), with no icing conditions reported, the pilot reported to the air traffic controller that he, “...lost [his] panel.” With the autopilot most likely engaged, the airplane began a right roll about 36 seconds later. The airplane continued in a right roll that increased to 105 degrees, then rolled back to about 70 degrees, before the airplane entered a right descending turn. The airplane continued its descending turn until being lost from radar in the vicinity of the accident site. The airplane impacted in a nose-down attitude in an open field and was significantly fragmented. Postaccident inspection of the flight control system, engine, and propeller revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The flaps and landing gear were retracted and all trim settings were within the normal operating range. Additionally, the airplane was within weight and balance limitations for the flight. The cause of the pilot-reported panel failure could not be determined; however, the possibility of a total electrical failure was eliminated since the pilot maintained radio contact with the air traffic controller. Although the source of the instrumentation failure could not be determined, proper pilot corrective actions, identified in the pilot operating handbook, following the failure most likely would have restored flight information to the pilot’s electronic flight display. Additionally, a standby attitude gyro, compass, and the co-pilot’s electronic flight display units would be available for attitude reference information assuming they were operational.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while in instrument meteorological conditions following a reported instrumentation failure for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Crooked Creek

Date & Time: Jun 16, 2009 at 1620 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1623U
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aniak – Sleetmute – Crooked Creek
MSN:
207-0223
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1388
Captain / Total hours on type:
486.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9089
Circumstances:
The commercial pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, other work use flight when the accident occurred. As he approached his destination airport, he said he saw a large rain squall moving over the airport, and he elected to remain south of the airport to allow time for it to move. He reported that while maneuvering the airplane at 1,000 feet msl, all engine power was lost. Unable to restore engine power, the pilot selected a marshy tree-covered area as a forced landing site. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the forced landing. The NTSB discovered no mechanical problems with the engine during a postaccident teardown and examination.
Probable cause:
A total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Primorsko-Akhtarsk

Date & Time: Jun 13, 2009 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF-00428
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G230-11
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a crop-spraying mission when the engine failed. He attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with power cables and crashed in a field located about 20 km southeast of Primorsko-Akhtarsk, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.