Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 25 November 1984
Aircraft Type: Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander
Owner/operator: Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority
Registration Number: VH-ISI
Location: 1 km from Wilton Airport, NSW – ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 13
Component Affected: EngineEngine
Category: Accident
A Cessna 208 Flugzeug experienced a loss of engine power at a high altitude after takeoff. The pilot initiated a gentle left turn to return to the strip and subsequently experienced a ground impact due to a magneto failure resulting in sinking. The incident was triggered by excessive wear within the magneto, and the pilot was able to maintain flight despite exceeding the aircraft’s weight limit.A Cessna 208 Flugzeug experienced a loss of engine power at a high altitude after takeoff. The pilot initiated a gentle left turn to return to the strip and subsequently experienced a ground impact due to a magneto failure resulting in sinking. The incident was triggered by excessive wear within the magneto, and the pilot was able to maintain flight despite exceeding the aircraft’s weight limit.

Description

At a height of about 200 feet after take-off the right engine lost power. The pilot feathered the propeller and commenced a gentle left turn in order to return to the strip. He later advised that the aircraft began to sink towards some large trees and he was forced to increase the angle of bank in an effort to avoid them. Shortly afterwards the aircraft struck the ground heavily in an adjacent paddock about 1 kilometer from the strip. The engine failure was caused by jamming of accessory drive gearing as a result of the effects of excessive wear within a magneto. It was probable that a mandatory inspection of the magneto which fell due 84 flying hours before the accident, was not conducted. On take-off the aircraft weight exceeded the authorised limit, however following the engine failure the pilot was able to maintain straight and level flight. A cleared area of ground lay ahead and just to the left of the flight path but the pilot had considered the aircraft had sufficient performance capability to permit a return to the strip.

Primary Cause

Magneto failure due to excessive wear within a magneto.Magneto failure due to excessive wear within a magneto.

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