What happened
On May 25, 2012, a Cessna 208B, registration D-FAAF, departed for a skydiving mission at flight level 105. Following the completion of the parachute jumps, the pilot began a descent. During the approach to runway 08, the pilot deployed the flaps to 20 degrees, maintaining an indicated airspeed of 90 knots with the propeller in fine pitch.
At approximately 700 feet AGL, the pilot applied a slight increase in power to maintain the glide path before returning the throttle to the idle position. At this moment, the turbine engine suffered a complete shutdown, and the propeller transitioned to the feathered position. The pilot checked the fuel selector valves and attempted to restart the engine, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field located roughly 800 meters from the runway threshold, where the aircraft came to rest in a vineyard. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine's failure and the fuel system. Post-crash analysis of the wreckage revealed that approximately 500 lbs of JET A1 fuel remained in the tanks. Physical examination of the engine showed no obvious external anomalies. Furthermore, testing of the fuel control unit and the fuel pump on a test bench did not reveal any malfunctions. Due to limitations, more detailed examinations of the turbine itself could not be performed.
Findings
- The investigation was unable to identify the specific cause of the turbine engine shutdown during flight.