Accident Summary
On October 6, 2013, at about 0603 Atlantic standard time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8, registration N909GD, operated by Air Charter Inc. (doing business as Air Flamenco), was substantially damaged when it impacted water approximately 7 miles southwest of Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (TJCP) in Culebra, Puerto Rico. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the on-demand air taxi cargo flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135.
Flight History
The flight originated from Antonio Rivera Rodriquez Airport (TJVQ) in Vieques, Puerto Rico, at about 0555. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot had initially departed Culebra around 0500, flew to Ceiba to pick up newspapers, then proceeded to Vieques without incident before departing for the return leg to Culebra. After the airplane became overdue, a search was conducted by the operator and U.S. Coast Guard personnel. The pilot, small fuselage fragments, and the nose gear were later recovered from the water near a fuel/oil slick.
Radar Data
Radar data provided by the FAA indicated that after takeoff from TJVQ, the airplane turned northeast toward TJCP and flew over water at an altitude of 100 to 200 feet mean sea level before climbing to 2,400 feet. About 0559:49, the airplane performed a 360-degree left turn followed by a 360-degree right turn while maintaining 2,400 feet, then continued northeast at 0601:09. At 0602:53, it began a rapid descending left turn, and radar contact was lost at 0603:07 at 1,000 feet.
Wreckage and Conditions
The wreckage was located on the sea floor at a depth of about 85 feet, near the last radar target approximately 12 miles northeast of TJVQ. The airplane came to rest upright, but both wings, the cabin, cockpit, and nose section were destroyed by impact forces. The empennage was intact with impact damage to the outboard leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer. Both engines were found with propellers intact and attached. The wreckage was not recovered, precluding examination for preimpact malfunctions.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1971 and powered by two Lycoming O-540-E4C5 engines with Hartzell HC-C2YK-2CUF propellers. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated about 22,600 total hours. The most recent 100-hour inspection was performed on September 19, 2013, at 22,575 hours. The left and right engines had operated about 1,450 and 560 hours since overhaul, respectively; the propellers had about 1,465 and 1,155 hours since overhaul.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land, airplane single-engine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on January 23, 2013, at which time he reported 1,200 total flight hours, including 500 hours in the previous 6 months. Company records showed he was hired in April 2012 as a BN-2A pilot-in-command. At the time of the accident, he had accumulated about 1,650 total flight hours, with about 1,100 hours in the same make and model, of which about 130 hours were in the preceding 90 days. His most recent flight review was on April 10, 2013, in the same aircraft type.
Weather and Lighting Conditions
Weather at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station (TJNR), about 15 miles west-southwest of the accident site, at 0555 included calm winds, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 25°C, dew point 24°C, and altimeter 29.92 inHg. Astronomical data indicated civil twilight began at 0556, sunrise at 0616. At the time of the accident, the sun was 3.5 degrees below the horizon at an azimuth of 94 degrees. Moonrise was at 0739, with the moon more than 15 degrees below the horizon; the moon was a waxing crescent with 3% illumination.
Medical and Toxicology Findings
An autopsy by the Instituto de Ciencias Forenses in San Juan, Puerto Rico, determined the pilot's cause of death as severe trauma sustained in the accident. The pathologist noted an enlarged heart, enlarged spleen, and fatty liver. Toxicology testing by the FAA's Bioaeronautical Research Laboratory identified 0.027 gm/dl of ethanol in the pilot's cavity blood but none in muscle or brain tissue; no tested-for drugs were detected. Toxicology testing by the Instituto de Ciencias Forenses did not identify ethanol, other alcohols, or drugs.