History of the Flight
The pilot departed Cayenne-Félix Éboué airport at 13:06 local time on a freight flight to Maripasoula, carrying foodstuff for a general food store. At 13:11, he reported an engine failure on the radio, broadcast a MAYDAY, and performed an emergency landing in a field. During the landing, the nose gear ruptured and both wing tips were torn off. The aircraft slid about 20 meters before coming to a halt. At 13:16, the pilot called the tower to give his position and stated that he did not require assistance.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 206, registered 9H-MDJ, was owned by Charles Baumert & Cie. It was equipped with a Continental IO 520S-16 six-cylinder air-cooled engine. The aircraft was under a dry-lease contract between Aero Logistiques and GM, a general food store based in Maripasoula. The pilot had been the sole user since August 2022.
Pilot Information
The 52-year-old pilot first obtained a Commercial Pilot License in 1996, followed by an Airline Transport Pilot Licence in 2000, both valid at the time of the accident. He had logged approximately 22,000 flight hours. He was contracted by GM for a single flight to transport freight between Cayenne and Maripasoula on 19 December 2022.
Engine Examination
Examination of the wreckage and engine revealed that the crankcase had been perforated following the in-flight rupture of one of the connecting rods. The BEA did not perform additional engine examination. Oil samples taken from the engine showed no anomalies: the oil met supplier specifications with no abnormal presence of water or metal particles. However, the oil filter contained an abnormally large quantity of metal particles.
Maintenance History
Around 5 December, the pilot detected an oil leak in the engine. A seal on the oil cooler was changed but did not stop the leak. A second-hand oil cooler was then installed, also without effect. None of these operations were recorded in the aircraft logbook. A new cooler and filter were ordered. On 15 December, the pilot flew 9H-MDJ with three passengers and experienced an oil pressure reduction during flight, leading to a precautionary landing at a mining site near Repentir. The mechanic then travelled to the site, installed the new cooler and filter, recorded the operation, and issued a Certificate of Release to Service after a ground run. The next day, the mechanic found no leaks.
Weight and Balance
The pilot provided a weight sheet indicating full fuel (230 kg) and freight of 205 kg. The pilot later informed the BEA that the weight was approximately 230 kg. Weight and balance appeared within the manufacturer's limits.
Meteorological Conditions
At 13:00 local time, meteorological conditions at Cayenne included easterly wind of 5 kt, a few clouds, temperature 26°C, dew point 24°C, and QNH 1012 hPa.
Additional Information
The flight was arranged as own-account transport for a general food store. The French DGAC noted that the simultaneous provision of an aircraft lease contract and a pilot services contract constitutes a charter operation, which requires an Air Operator Certificate and an operating licence under commercial air transport regulations. The source indicates that the flight was conducted without these authorisations.