What happened
During a local training mission operating out of Accra-Kotoka Airport, a flight crew consisting of three pilots was performing maneuvers near the airfield. While on final approach at an altitude of approximately 150 feet, the pilot intentionally deactivated the left engine to replicate an in-flight engine failure scenario. Following this action, the aircraft experienced a loss of control and entered a left bank. The plane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest a few hundred yards before reaching the runway. The accident resulted in three injuries and caused the aircraft to be written off as a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that the aircraft's control was lost because the left propeller blades transitioned to a fine pitch without being properly feathered. This mechanical state contributed to the aerodynamic imbalance. The primary factor was determined to be the pilot's failure to move the left High Pressure cock lever to the full off position during the simulated failure procedure.