History of the Flight
On 3 December 1993, a Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander, registration C-GMOP, operated by Arctic Wings and Rotors, departed Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, on a scheduled night visual flight rules flight to Inuvik. On board were the pilot and six passengers. Takeoff from runway 09 occurred at 1706:34 MST. Shortly after turning south, the right engine (Textron Lycoming IO-540-K1B5) lost all power.
At 1710:40, the pilot reported an engine problem to Tuktoyaktuk Flight Service Station and indicated he was returning. Subsequent transmissions showed increasing stress. The last transmission ended at 1713:03. When the aircraft did not arrive, a search was initiated. Wreckage was found three hours later on an ice-covered lake approximately eight miles southeast of the airport. The aircraft struck the ice in a steep nose-down attitude. The seven occupants were fatally injured.
Injuries to Persons
The accident resulted in fatal injuries to all seven occupants: the pilot and six passengers.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft was destroyed.
Other Damage
There was no other damage.
Personnel Information
The 27-year-old pilot held an Air Transport Pilot Licence with a Class I instrument rating. He had 3,224 total flying hours, including 848 hours on the Islander. His recent flying was described as "very professional". He had not received night training on the Islander, though regulations required such training. His last night flying was on a PA-31 Navajo on 20 November 1993.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a 1974 Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander, serial number 398, with 9,391 total airframe hours. It was powered by two Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 engines. Maintenance records were incomplete; a 100-hour inspection was completed on 7 November 1993 and a 50-hour inspection on 2 December 1993.
Meteorological Information
Weather at Tuktoyaktuk at 1700 was overcast at 1,100 feet, 15 miles visibility, light snow, wind 200 degrees true at eight knots, temperature -19°C.
Analysis and Findings
The Board determined that a magneto impulse coupling, worn beyond prescribed limits, resulted in the failure of the right engine. Following the engine failure, the pilot mistrimmed the rudder and was unable to maintain control of the aircraft.