Accident Details
At 13:21 UTC on 28 November 2014, a Pilatus PC-12/45 aircraft, registration VT-DAR, sustained substantial damage during landing on Runway 02 at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, Assam. The aircraft was operating a non-scheduled charter flight from Delhi to Guwahati with two crew members and one passenger on board. There were no injuries to any occupants.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft (MSN 251, manufactured in 1999) was owned by Deccan Aviation Ltd. and operated by Deccan Charter Pvt. Ltd. The Pilot-in-Command held a Commercial Pilot Licence endorsed for the PC-12, with 1,648 total flying hours and 179 hours on type. The Co-Pilot also held a CPL with 4,373 total hours and 2,723 hours on type. Both crew were qualified and had adequate rest prior to the flight. The aircraft had no reported snags before departure; daily inspections were performed at Delhi and Guwahati.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed Delhi at 10:18 UTC. During climb, an AIR/GD warning light illuminated along with a Master Caution, which the crew addressed per the Aircraft Flight Manual and continued. The enroute flight was uneventful. Approaching Guwahati, air traffic control vectored the aircraft for an ILS approach to Runway 02. The crew configured for landing: landing gear down and full flaps, maintaining 95–100 KIAS. The autopilot was disconnected at decision height (350 feet above touchdown), and the PIC flew manually.
According to the PIC's statement, the aircraft touched down on the main landing gear but bounced. A second bounce occurred. The Co-Pilot suggested the PIC take control, and the PIC acknowledged. The PIC reported maintaining directional control with the stick but noted increasing pitch at low altitude. The aircraft then pitched down abruptly and landed on the nose landing gear. The nose gear sheared off from its attachment, and the propeller contacted the runway, producing sparks and smoke. The aircraft skidded on the nose and came to rest just after the intersection of Taxiway E. Both pilots and the passenger evacuated safely. The tower observed sparks and activated the fire station, which arrived and applied foam where smoke was visible. No fire occurred; hydraulic fluid was observed on the runway.
Damage
The nose landing gear fork, torque link, spring strut, and drag link were broken. All four propeller blades were bent, with tips worn from friction. The engine fuel pump and FCU broke from their mountings, and the generator housing cracked. The left flap trailing edge had minor damage. The runway surface sustained deep gouging marks from the nose gear axle.