What happened
On the morning of 20 October 1996, a Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain departed Port Menier, Quebec, on a charter flight bound for Bangor, Maine. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and seven passengers. During the flight, the pilot notified air traffic control that the aircraft was experiencing engine issues and intended to divert to Charlo, New and Brunswick.
As the aircraft approached the Charlo area, the pilot reported a rough-running engine. While attempting to maneuver for an instrument landing approach in thick fog, the aircraft began to lose altitude. Witnesses in the community of Eel River Crossing observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude before it rolled into an inverted position and pitched nose-down. The aircraft struck the ground in a near-vertical attitude and was destroyed by a post-impact fire. All 8 occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's performance and the pilot's actions following the engine malfunction. Investigators determined that the right engine suffered a loss of power, likely due to a seized turbocharger. Analysis of the aircraft's weight indicated that the plane was operating in an overweight condition; calculations suggested the takeoff weight in Port Menier exceeded the maximum allowable limit of 7,000 pounds by approximately 428 pounds.
Investigators also examined the pilot's flight parameters, noting that the aircraft was flying at a speed of 140 knots during the diversion, which was significantly higher than the 110-knot speed required for the best single-engine rate of climb. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's emergency configuration, finding that the engine had not been secured and the propeller had not been feathered following the power loss.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of power from the right engine, combined with the pilot's failure to conserve altitude or configure the aircraft for maximum performance.
- The aircraft was in an overweight condition, which reduced the margin for error and negatively impacted performance during the single-engine flight.
- The pilot had not received recent in-flight emergency procedures training.
- The aircraft lost control, likely while the pilot was attempting to intercept the ILS for runway 13 during a low-level turn.
- The operator's assignment of the flight required significant changes to maintain weight limits, and there was a lack of effective regulatory oversight regarding weight and balance monitoring for this operator.