Zone

Ground accident of a Gulfstream GIV in Papeete

Date & Time: Jan 30, 2011 at 1725 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N127DK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1127
YOM:
1990
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Papeete-Faaa Airport, the aircraft went out of control and collided with various ground handling equipment such as a catering truck, a belt loader and cargo containers. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Moorea: 20 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 2007 at 1201 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-OIQI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moorea – Papeete
MSN:
608
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
QE1121
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Captain / Total flying hours:
3514
Captain / Total hours on type:
298.00
Aircraft flight hours:
30833
Aircraft flight cycles:
55044
Circumstances:
On Thursday 9 August 2007, the DHC-6 aeroplane registered F-OIQI was scheduled to fly a public transport flight (QE1121) between Moorea and Tahiti Faa’a with a pilot and 19 passengers on board. The flight, with an average duration of 7 minutes, is performed under VFR at a planned cruise altitude of 600 feet. The following information is derived from the on-board audio recording and witness statements. At 21 h 53 min 22, startup was authorised. The pilot made the safety announcement in English and in French: “Ladies and Gentlemen, hello and welcome on board. Please fasten your seatbelts”. At 21 h 57 min 19, the air traffic controller cleared the aeroplane to taxi towards holding point Bravo on runway 12. At 21 h 58 min 10, the aeroplane was cleared to line up. It taxied up the runway and lined up at the level of the second taxiway. At 22 h 00 min 06, the aeroplane was cleared for takeoff. Six seconds later the engines were powered up. At 22 h 00 min 58, the pilot retracted the flaps. At 22 h 01 min 07, propeller speed was reduced. At 22 h 01 min 09 the pilot uttered an expression of surprise. Two GPWS warnings sounded, propeller speed increased and four further GPWS warnings sounded. The aeroplane struck the surface of the sea at 22 h 01 min 20. One minute and eight seconds elapsed between engine power-up and the end of the audio recording. Fourteen bodies were recovered during the rescue operations. Some aeroplane debris, including parts of the right main gear and seat cushions were recovered by fishermen and the rescue team. Some days later, at a depth of seven hundred metres, a fifteenth body was recovered during operations to recover the flight recorder, both engines, the instrument panel, the front part of the cockpit including engine and flaps controls, the flaps jackscrews and the tail section. It was noted that the rudder and elevator control cables were broken off in their forward parts and that the elevator pitch-up control cable had, in its aft part, a second failure whose appearance was different from that observed on the other failures that were examined.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the loss of airplane pitch control following the failure, at a low height, of the elevator pitch-up control cable at the time the flaps were retracted. This failure was due to the following series of phenomena:
- Significant wear on the cable in line with a cable guide;
- An external phenomenon, most likely jet blast, which caused the failure of several strands;
- The failure of the last strand or strands under in-flight loads on the elevator control system.
The following factors may have contributed to the accident:
- The absence of information and training for pilots on a loss of pitch control;
- The operator’s failure to carry out some special inspections;
- The failure by the manufacturer and the airworthiness authority to fully take into account the wear phenomenon;
- The failure by the airworthiness authorities, airport authorities and operators to fully take into account the risks associated with jet blast;
- The rules for replacement of stainless steel cables on a calendar basis, without taking into account the activity of the airplane in relation to its type of operation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air off Papeete

Date & Time: Apr 16, 2004 at 1450 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-OHJL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Papeete - Papeete
MSN:
BB-1592
YOM:
1997
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Papeete-Faaa on a local post maintenance flight with one engineer and one pilot on board. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ATC about control problems and elected to return. Unable to maintain control, he decided to ditch the aircraft few hundred metres offshore. The aircraft sank by a depth of 21 metres and both occupants were able to swim to shore.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 Marquise off Papeete: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1994 at 2354 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-GDHV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rarotonga - Papeete
MSN:
779
YOM:
1980
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing an ambulance flight from Rarotonga (Cook Islands) to Tahiti, carrying to Australian patients, two doctors and one pilot. On final approach to Papeete-Faaa Airport runway 04 by night, the twin engine aircraft descended too low and crashed in the sea about 6,4 km short of runway. The pilot did not send any distress call prior to impact and the aircraft struck the water surface in a flat attitude. All five occupants were killed. For unknown reasons, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient on short final. The lack of visibility and visual references were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N5404J
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Hilo - Papeete
MSN:
22022
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was transferred from Los Angeles to New Zealand via Hilo and Papeete, Tahiti. En route, while cruising at the altitude of 1,500 metres, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine and decided to divert to Christmas Island. The left engine eventually failed and as the crew as unable to maintain a safe altitude because the aircraft was heavy (load of fuel to cross the Pacific), he decided to ditch the aircraft about 150 km north of Christmas Island. The aircraft sank four hours later and was lost. All eight occupants were rescued by the crew of a merchant ship eight hours later.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest II off Papeete: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-ODUK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Papeete - Maupiti
MSN:
441-0270
YOM:
1983
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Papeete-Faaa Airport on an ambulance flight to Maupiti, carrying two doctors and one pilot. After takeoff, while climbing by night, the pilot informed ATC about minor problems with the engine but preferred to return for a safe landing. On final approach, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea few km from the airport. All three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, it was dark but weather conditions were excellent.

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1900G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hilo - Papeete
MSN:
BA-742
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Circumstances:
While in normal cruise, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine. He was able to feather the propeller but unable to maintain a safe altitude as the aircraft was heavy. The twin engine airplane later crashed into the ocean. SAR operations were conducted but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-321B off Papeete: 78 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1973 at 2206 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N417PA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Auckland - Papeete - Los Angeles
MSN:
18959/470
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
PA816
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
69
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
78
Captain / Total flying hours:
25275
Captain / Total hours on type:
8384.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
21575
Copilot / Total hours on type:
9248
Aircraft flight hours:
27314
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a internationaal service from Auckland to Los Angeles with an intermediate stop in Papeete, Tahiti. After a night takeoff from Papeete-Faaa Airport runway 04, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn to the left according to departure procedures. Then the aircraft entered a left banked, lost altitude and crashed into the sea about 3 km offshore. Few debris were found floating on water and one passenger was evacuated while all 78 other occupants were killed. The aircraft sank by a depth of about 700 meters and both CVR and FDR were not found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is considered possible that the loss of control during initial climb was the consequence of an instrument failure that may have diverted the crew's attention. As the accident occurred by night over the sea, there were no visual references available and the assumption that the pilot-in-command may have suffered a spatial disorientation was not ruled out.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Raiatea: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1958 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AOVV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Papeete – Raiatea – Bora Bora
MSN:
296
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total hours on type:
36.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
91
Aircraft flight hours:
2277
Circumstances:
The approach to Raiatea lagoon was performed in good weather conditions with a grey ceiling (altostratus) and several fractocumulus at 400 meters, good visibility. No wind and no waves on the sea gaves a very calm lagoon. While completing a last turn to the right to align to the landing area (seaplane base), the right wing tip struck the water surface. The airplane cartwheeled and crashed into the sea about 1,400 meters short of landing point. Eleven passengers were injured while 15 other occupants, among them all three crew members, were killed. The airplane sank by a depth of 36 meters ten minutes later.
Probable cause:
The combination of an uniformly gray sky (altostratus clouds across the region and some fractocumulus at 400 meters), the absence of wind and the absence of lines on a gray and smooth lagoon created favorable conditions for an illusion and made it difficult to assess the exact height above the water level during the most difficult operation of the flight, the water landing. The evidence indicates that no maneuver was initiated to change the nose down attitude. The pilot did not see the water. Although there was no wind, the windsock had previously stopped in a position that prompted the pilot to land facing the NW which is used once in twenty at Raiatea. In addition, the sun , even through the altrostratus could be annoying; facing the NW, the pilot had the sun three quarter from the rear. Note that during the landing opposite the NW, the lap is necessarily right to avoid overflying the city and land. Vertical visibility of the first pilot during a right turn is poorer. Finally, the slight correction of alignment by the pilot resulted the right wing striking the water at too low altitude.
Final Report: