Incident Overview
Description
A Beechcraft 99A passenger plane, operated by Aerocord, was destroyed in an accident near Puerto Montt-Marcel Marchant Airport, Chile. All eight passengers and the pilot were killed. The airplane took off from Puerto Montt-Marcel Marchant Airport’s runway 01 at 10:23, bound for Melinka Airport. Immediately after takeoff the cowling of engine number two unlatched, causing the cowling to open. The pilot levelled off at a height of about 200-300 feet and turned downwind for an emergency landing back on runway 01. The airplane stalled as the pilot turned to finals. It impacted the ground with a nose down attitude and burst into flames. MOST PROBABLE CAUSE (translated from Spanish): Operational error of the pilot in command by not applying normal approach procedures recommended by the manufacturer and loss control of the aircraft (stall) while returning to land with the left engine cowling open. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: – During preflight inspection it was not discovered that the left engine cowl was not latched. – Return with the intendion of landing with a speed very close to the stall speed, possibly to avoid the detachment of the cowl due to the wind force. – Probable increased stall speed by altering the left wing aerodynamics due to the engine open cowl. – Not having high enough altitude to recover from a stall condition. – Possible decreased physiological capabilities of the commander of the aircraft, due to the presence of alcohol in his system. – Possible pilot distraction due to: * Weather conditions, and * Open engine cowl.
Primary Cause
Operational error of the pilot in command by not applying normal approach procedures recommended by the manufacturer and loss of control of the aircraft (stall) while returning to land with the left engine cowling open.Operational error of the pilot in command by not applying normal approach procedures recommended by the manufacturer and loss of control of the aircraft (stall) while returning to land with the left engine cowling open.Share on:
