Incident Overview

Date: Friday 10 September 2004
Aircraft Type: Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III
Owner/operator: Ryan Blake Air Charter
Registration Number: ZS-OLS
Location: George Airport (GRJ) – ÿ South Africa
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Right-hand engineRight-hand engine
Investigating Agency: CAA S.A.CAA S.A.
Category: Accident
A Metro III aircraft experienced a severe incident during an ILS approach to runway 11 at George Airport. The aircraft abruptly lost power, experienced a bird strike on the right engine, and rapidly yawed to the right, leading to a forced landing on a cattle farm. The pilot initiated a go-around, but the aircraft continued to yaw to the right, resulting in significant damage.A Metro III aircraft experienced a severe incident during an ILS approach to runway 11 at George Airport. The aircraft abruptly lost power, experienced a bird strike on the right engine, and rapidly yawed to the right, leading to a forced landing on a cattle farm. The pilot initiated a go-around, but the aircraft continued to yaw to the right, resulting in significant damage.

Description

The crew of the Metro III executed an ILS approach for landing onto runway 11 at George Airport (GRJ). At 1000ft from the threshold of runway 11 with the undercarriage selected down and at full flaps for landing at an IAS of 120 kt when he advised the co-pilot (the flying pilot), to continue visually with the approach for runway 11. Shortly after afterwards they heard a loud impact sound and the right hand engine failed. The aircraft suddenly yawed and banked severely to the right and the flying pilot commented that they had experienced a bird strike on the right-hand engine. The pilot-in-command immediately took over the controls and attempted to arrest the yaw to the right but the aircraft kept yawing to the right. He called for a go around. The co-pilot then selected full power on both engines retracted the undercarriage, whilst the pilot-in-command feathered the right-hand propeller. According to the pilot-in-command, the aircraft continued to yaw to the right and with the stall aural warning sounding with a loss of altitude, he pulled the left-hand engine stop and feather control and was committed to execute a forced landing on a cattle farm. Both wings collided with the gum poles of a telephone and wire fence causing extensive damage to the wings and fuselage under-surface. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The aircraft encountered a bird strike on the right-hand engine prior to landing at George Aerodrome. It appears that the cockpit crew did not apply the correct procedures for a go-around when the aircraft yawed severely to the right. The aircraft failed to climb and a forced landing was executed on a cattle farm.”

Primary Cause

Bird strike on the right-hand engine prior to landing.Bird strike on the right-hand engine prior to landing.

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