Incident Overview
On 4 September 2017, at approximately 1147 UTC, a Britten-Norman Islander BN2B-26, registration VP-FBR, was involved in a serious incident approximately 9 nautical miles south of Mount Pleasant Airport, Falkland Islands. The aircraft, manufactured in 1992, was engaged in a commercial air transport (passenger) flight with one crew member and two passengers on board.
Sequence of Events
About 10 minutes after takeoff, the commander heard a loud “bang” accompanied by strong vibration. White smoke was observed emanating from the left engine. The commander promptly shut down the left engine in accordance with the emergency procedure and commenced a shallow dive to increase airspeed until the smoke ceased. A MAYDAY was declared, and the aircraft returned to Mount Pleasant Airport, landing without further incident.
Pilot Experience
The commander, aged 25, held a Commercial Pilot’s Licence and had a total flying experience of 2,310 hours, of which 2,130 hours were on type. In the last 90 days, he had flown 66 hours, and in the last 28 days, 27 hours.
Aircraft Damage and Inspection
Initial inspection revealed a small hole in the left engine top cowling. Upon removal of the cowling, a hole in the crankcase and some liberated internal engine parts were apparent. The damage was confined to the left engine and cowling.
Injuries and Occupants
Both the crew member and two passengers reported no injuries.
Information Source
The information for this article was derived from the Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot.