Accident Summary
At 2133 UTC on 23 December 2017, Cessna 172S JT-A, registration PR-PTS, crashed shortly after takeoff from Providenciales Airport, Turks and Caicos Islands. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.
History of the Flight
The aircraft was newly built and had been fitted with a diesel engine under an FAA Supplementary Type Certificate. It was being ferried from Independence, Kansas, USA, to São Paulo, Brazil, with planned stops including Providenciales. Due to accommodation unavailability, the crew planned to continue to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the same evening. The aircraft landed at Providenciales at 2022 UTC and was refueled. Weather was excellent with visibility over 10 km and an easterly wind of 10 kt. At 2123 UTC, the pilot requested taxi clearance for the flight to Punta Cana. At 2131 UTC, the tower asked if the pilot could depart from the present position, and the pilot agreed. At 2132 UTC, PR-PTS was cleared for takeoff. As the aircraft became airborne, the tower controller and assistant observed smoke. The pilot immediately requested a return, which was granted. The aircraft began a left turn, increasing bank angle, then the nose dropped and the aircraft disappeared behind buildings. Other aircraft reported the crash, and emergency services were dispatched. The aircraft struck the ground north of the airport, outside the perimeter fence, in a steep nose-down attitude on a heading of 010°M, 90° left of the departure runway. The impact point was approximately 270 m north of the runway extended centerline.
Wreckage Examination
All major components were present at the accident site. Continuity of flying controls was established. The flaps were fully up and the elevator trim tab was neutral. The pre-impact position of the fuel selector valve could not be determined. No fuel sample could be taken from the aircraft, but traces of JET A were found in the engine's fuel rail. A sample from the refueling bowser conformed to JET A specifications. The post-crash fire consumed most engine air induction and coolant hoses. The intercooler was recovered with hose clamps and a silicone hose remnant at the inlet. The intercooler outlet hose clamps had released during impact but were later identified. The induction manifold inlet had both clamps in position, but the hose was burned. The turbocharger compressor outlet coupler was secured by its metal V-band clamp, but the single hose clamp that attaches the compressor outlet hose to the turbocharger was not located. The FADEC unit was recovered and burned.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 172S JT-A is a conversion of the Cessna 172S, replacing the Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine with a Technify Motors TAE 125-02-114 turbocharged diesel engine. For PR-PTS, the conversion was embodied under an STC. During installation, a cylinder head modification required removal of the exhaust manifold and turbocharger. The technician stated that he loosened both hose clamps attaching the induction hose to the intercooler inlet to facilitate removal, and reinstalled the components afterward. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was issued on 18 December 2017. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated 32.4 hours and the engine 24.6 hours in operation.
Probable Cause
The engine lost power most likely due to a failure of, or detachment, of an intercooler induction hose, which led to the pilot losing control during the attempted return to the airport.