What happened
During flight UNO-052P, an aircraft operating for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was traveling from Bamako to Gao when it experienced significant technical difficulties. While in flight, the right-side generator ceased functioning, prompting the crew to attempt multiple restarts of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). These attempts were unsuccessful, and the left generator subsequently failed as well.
Due to the loss of electrical power, the crew had to manually deploy the landing gear. The aircraft arrived at the destination during rainy weather, landing on a wet runway. Approximately 500 metres after crossing the runway threshold, the crew initiated braking maneuvers; however, they were unable to engage the thrust reversers. As the aircraft reached a speed between 140 and 160 km/h, it overran the runway, resulting in the loss of the undercarriage before the plane came to a stop in a waterlogged area. The aircraft was destroyed in the incident.
All 11 occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage, though 6 injuries were reported among the group.
Findings
- The primary issue involved a cascading electrical system failure following the loss of both generators.
- Heavy rain and a wet runway surface contributed to the difficulty in maintaining control during the overrun.
- The inability to deploy thrust reversers prevented the crew from effectively slowing the aircraft before it left the paved surface.