What happened
On the early morning of January 7, 1995, a Piper PA31-1T1040, registration 5Y-UAC, departed Wilson Airport bound for Mogadishu. The aircraft was carrying one passenger and a cargo of 'miraa'. Immediately following takeoff from runway 07, the pilot notified Air Traffic Control of a technical problem and attempted to divert to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
During the emergency maneuver, the aircraft began a rapid descent. Unable to reach the international airport, the pilot attempted to land within Nairobi National Park. During this process, the aircraft turned toward the malfunctioning engine and impacted the terrain. The impact caused the aircraft to burst into flames, resulting in two fatalities.
The investigation
The AAID examined the wreckage and the starboard engine to determine the nature of the technical failure. Investigators found that the starboard engine was still running at the moment of impact, evidenced by severe rubbing damage on the compressor blades and power turbine vane.
An inspection of the propeller reversing mechanism revealed that a carbon beta block was missing from the reversing lever, allowing the lever to move freely. Additionally, the low-pitch stop switch plunger had developed a groove due to wear, and a connecting pin was badly worn, which compromised the accuracy of the beta adjustment. The investigation also noted that the pilot had observed the starboard beta light flickering intermittently prior to takeoff, a symptom that had been investigated the previous day.