Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Ferreira do Alentejo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 2016 at 1750 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-FSCB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Figueira dos Cavaleiros - Figueira dos Cavaleiros
MSN:
634
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1400
Captain / Total hours on type:
900.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6556
Circumstances:
On the afternoon of the 19th of June 2016 a Pilatus PC-6 aircraft, German registration DFSCB, took off from the airfield of Figueira dos Cavaleiros (LPFC) for its 17th launch of skydivers that day. On this flight there were 8 persons on board: 1 pilot, 5 skydivers and 2 passengers that were jumping in tandem with two of the skydivers. The meteorology featured a day with clear sky, the wind blew from 040° with 10 kt and the air temperature was around 32° C. The Pilatus took off for a local skydiving training flight and started a climb to an altitude of 14.500 ft. During the initial climb at a rate of 1.000 feet per minute, when crossing 7.000 feet above mean sea level, according to some of the skydivers in the group, a sound similar to the cracking/ripping of a metal structure was heard, and simultaneously the aircraft pitched up to a high nose-up attitude while yawing to the right, causing a severe flight instability. Suddenly, the entire rear fuselage structure disintegrated. According to the reports, some occupants were pushed against the structure of the aircraft before they were thrown outside. During the following seconds the skydivers who did not suffer serious injuries, managed to jump out of the plane and triggered their parachutes. Two of them were seriously injured before leaving the aircraft, their emergency parachutes being automatically deployed by the barometric opening mechanism. As a result, the disintegration of the remaining aircraft parts continued until the impact with the ground. Fragments of the aircraft parts were found over a length of approximately 1.500 meters and a width of about 500 meters and were widely dispersed, with an alignment with the direction of flight from west to east. The pilot was thrown out of the remains of the cockpit and hit the ground at about 400 meters from the impact site of the cabin. He did not trigger his parachute and it was not, nor is it a procedure to be equipped with an emergency parachute with an automatic barometric opening mechanism.
Probable cause:
The investigation considers that, after the fracture of the HT-trim attachment accessory, the horizontal stabilizer was loose, uncontrolled and vibrated, causing the fracture of the left side of the horizontal stabilizer.
Contributing factors:
- Failure on the inspection method by part 145 organization to the critical parts identified on SB 53-001 R1.
- The weakness of regulator (ANAC) oversight to the aircraft operator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Cecina: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 2016 at 1230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
S5-CMB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cecina - Cecina
MSN:
932
YOM:
2000
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
670
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1700
Aircraft flight hours:
6705
Circumstances:
The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kalifornia (aka Skydive Toscana) was involved in a local skydiving flight from Cecina Airfield. When the aircraft reached the assigned altitude, six of the seven skydivers bailed out. When the seventh skydiver elected to jump, his auxiliary parachute accidentally opened while the skydiver was still in the cabin. He was sucked outside and collided with the right horizontal stabilizer that later detached. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both pilots were killed. There was no fire. All seven skydivers were uninjured.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident is attributable to the detachment of the horizontal stabilizer following the impact with a skydiver dragged by his auxiliary parachute that accidentally opened while he was still inside the aircraft. This detachment led to the loss of governability of the aircraft.
The following factors contributed to the incident:
- The conformation of the throwing material, with closing flap of the safety flap covering the pin, which, tending to come out of its seat, did not guarantee adequate protection of the locking pin from accidental interference.
- The conformation of the structure of the right front seat, which interferes with the closing system of the auxiliary parachute bag, which determined the opening.
- The non-optimal disposition of the skydivers and the DL on board the aircraft (first skydiver to go out not immediately to the door and DL with his back addressed to the skydiver student).
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Buenos Aires: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 2015 at 1615 LT
Operator:
Registration:
GN-804
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires
MSN:
786
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was completing a local mission in Buenos Aires. In flight, the left wing detached, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent and to crash, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed. The left wing was found about 180 metres from the wreckage.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter near Namur: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2013 at 1535 LT
Operator:
Registration:
OO-NAC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Namur - Namur
MSN:
710
YOM:
1969
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
2919
Captain / Total hours on type:
332.00
Aircraft flight hours:
16159
Aircraft flight cycles:
34903
Circumstances:
On 19 October 2013, the Pilatus Porter was being used for parachute drops. The day started normally with the first take-off at 07:21. Each flight transported 9 or 10 passengers. Except for the first two, all the flights of that day were conducted by the same pilot. The aircraft’s last landing in EBNM was at 13:20 to board the next group of 10 parachutists. After the take-off, the aircraft appeared again on the radar at 13:28 at an altitude of 1200 ft. At 13:28:52, the EBCI Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) instructed the aircraft to remain at 2000 ft AMSL to allow for crossing traffic, a B737 landing at EBCI, and to proceed further to the east. After the crossing, the Pilatus was authorized to climb to 5000 ft. At 13:33:32, when the aeroplane was flying at 4400 ft, the pilot was authorized to turn back to the drop zone and turned towards its target, the EBNM airfield. Shortly after, a witness observed the aeroplane making a wide turn to the left. This witness monitored the aeroplane for about 40 seconds. He indicated the engine was making an abnormal noise which he compared with the explosions made by the exhaust of a rally car when decelerating. Finally, the witness heard a loud explosion ending by the dive of the aeroplane. He believed that the sound of an explosion was caused by the “engine turbine disintegration”. Another witness driving on the E42 highway saw the aeroplane performing what he perceived as being some aerobatic manoeuvers. The aeroplane was diving and was spinning. A moment later, he saw the wing break-up, including the separation and falling of smaller parts. A sailplane pilot was standing in his garden not far from the crash site. He first heard the sound of the Pilatus which he described as being typical, smooth and constant. He looked at the aeroplane and noticed it was flying at a lower altitude than usual. He stopped observing after a few seconds. 30 to 40 seconds later, he heard an abnormal noise change which he thought was a propeller pitch change or an engine power change. He looked for the aeroplane in the sky and saw the aeroplane diving with an angle of more than 45° immediately followed by a sharp pull-out angle of over 70°, followed by the upwards breaking of a wing. The aeroplane went down “as in a stall”. The witness still heard “the sound of propeller angle moving” after the wing separation. Another witness standing approximately at an horizontal distance of 600 m from the aeroplane described having heard a sound change. He looked at the aeroplane and saw the aeroplane flying horizontally, making several significant left and right roll movements of the wings before it disappearing from his view. The aeroplane crashed on a field in the territory of Gelbressée, killing all occupants. The aeroplane caught fire shortly after the impact. A big part of the left wing, elements thereof and the right sliding door of the cabin were found at 2 km from the main wreckage. Of the aircraft’s occupants, 4 parachutists were ejected from the aircraft just prior to impact.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident is a structural failure of the left wing due to a significant negative g aerodynamic overload, leading to an uncontrollable aeroplane and subsequent crash. The most probable cause of the wing failure is the result of a manoeuvre intended by the pilot, not properly conducted and ending with an involuntary negative g manoeuvre, exceeding the operating limitations of the aeroplane.
Contributing safety factors:
• The weakness of the monitoring of the aeroplane operations by the operator.
• The lack of organizational structure between the operator and the parachute club [safety issue].
Other safety factors identified during the investigation:
• The performance of aerobatics manoeuvre with an aircraft not certified to perform such manoeuvres.
• The performance of aerobatics manoeuvre by a pilot not adequately qualified and/or trained to perform such manoeuvres.
• Transportation of unrestrained passengers, not sitting on seat during dangerous phase of the flight.
• The weakness of the legal framework and guidance for aerial work [safety issue].
• The lack of effective oversight of aerial work operations by the BCAA [safety issue].
• The lack of mandatory requirement to install devices recording flight data on board aeroplane used for parachuting [safety issue].
• Insufficient back protection for the pilot [safety issue].
• No easy determination of the weight and balance of the aeroplane due to the passengers not sitting in predetermined positions [safety issue].
• The issuing by BCAA of two distinct authorizations to the aeroplane operator and the parachute club incorporating some overlaps, which does not encourage the awareness of responsibility of the stakeholders involved [safety issue].
• Possible erroneous interpretation of the maintenance manual [safety issue].
• Violations and/or safety occurrences not reported as required by the Circular GDF-04, preventing the BCAA from taking appropriate action.
• Peer pressure of parachutists sometimes encouraging pilots to perform manoeuvres not approved for normal category aeroplanes.
• Flying at high altitude without oxygen breathing system although required by regulation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter at Santa Lucía AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 2013 at 1340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
3303
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santa Lucía AFB - Santa Lucía AFB
MSN:
883
YOM:
1992
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Santa Lucía AFB when the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an open field near the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter off Granville

Date & Time: Aug 18, 2012 at 1855 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-GMJG
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Granville - Granville
MSN:
659
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
13300
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Granville-Bréville Aerodrome on a local skydiving mission. After all skydivers left the aircraft, the pilot reduced his altitude to return to his base. On final approach to runway 07, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea, few dozen metres offshore. A sailor went quickly to the scene and evacuated the pilot who was slightly injured while the aircraft sank by a depth of 5-6 metres. The wreckage was recovered and pulled on the beach a day later. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.