What happened
The incident occurred while a turboprop cargo airplane was climbing toward its cruise altitude. During this phase of flight, the aircraft's engine ingested one or more birds through the intake. This event caused a total loss of engine power. Despite the mechanical failure, the pilot maintained control and executed a successful forced landing in an open field.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the affected engine to determine the cause of the power loss. The examination revealed foreign object damage specifically affecting the compressor stator vanes. This physical evidence confirmed that external objects had entered the engine core during operation.
Findings
The primary factor in this event was bird ingestion into the engine intake. The resulting damage to the compressor stator vanes led directly to the total loss of engine power. The pilot's decision to land in an open field allowed for a safe outcome despite the catastrophic mechanical failure.