Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 16 August 2009
Aircraft Type: Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander
Owner/operator: Islas Aviation Services
Registration Number: YV212T
Location: 4 km off Caracas-Sim¢n Bol¡var International Airport (CCS) – ÿ Venezuela
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10
Component Affected: Both engines of the Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander.Both engines of the Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander.
Investigating Agency: JIAAC VenezuelaJIAAC Venezuela
Category: Accident
A Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander, registration YV212T, experienced a sudden and catastrophic engine failure during an overwater flight to Caracas, Venezuela. The flight began uneventfully, then transitioned to a series of controlled descent and maneuvers involving two circles and subsequent additional circles at 1000 feet. The abrupt engine shutdown, coupled with a lack of fuel verification, resulted in a ditching approximately 4 km offshore from Caracas Airport. All ten passengers were rescued by the Coast Guard.A Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander, registration YV212T, experienced a sudden and catastrophic engine failure during an overwater flight to Caracas, Venezuela. The flight began uneventfully, then transitioned to a series of controlled descent and maneuvers involving two circles and subsequent additional circles at 1000 feet. The abrupt engine shutdown, coupled with a lack of fuel verification, resulted in a ditching approximately 4 km offshore from Caracas Airport. All ten passengers were rescued by the Coast Guard.

Description

A Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander, registration YV212T, departed Los Roques Airport (LRV) on an overwater flight to Caracas, Venezuela with ten persons on board. The en route part of the flight was uneventful. Caracas Approach Control cleared the flight to descend to 1500 feet. At 7 nautical miles (13 km) from the airport the pilot flew two circles before further clearance was received to descend to 1000 feet. At 5 nautical miles (9,3 km) from the airport the pilot flew another two circles at 1000 feet because the flight was number seven on approach to Caracas. While descending through 600 feet both engines suddenly quit. The pilot then decided to carry out a ditching about 4 km offshore from Caracas Airport. All ten aboard were rescued by the Coast Guard. Three passengers sustained minor injuries. Cause (translated from Spanish): Due to the circumstances in which the accident occurred, it is possible to conclude that the cause of the accident was sudden and sequential shutdown of both engines, by the total absence of fuel at the time of the accident. The lack of verification during the pre-flight check of the fuel required for the realization of the planned flights for the day of the accident, allows to establish the Human Factor as a causal factor of the accident.

Primary Cause

Sudden and sequential shutdown of both engines due to a lack of fuel verification during pre-flight checks.Sudden and sequential shutdown of both engines due to a lack of fuel verification during pre-flight checks.

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