What happened
On 13 December 2016, a Beech Aircraft Corporation B200, registration VH-MVL, was performing a medical transport mission from Innamincka to Moomba, South Australia. While the aircraft was executing a right-hand circuit for runway 30, the pilot initiated the descent and configured the aircraft for landing. During the turn from the downwind leg toward the base leg, a warning light indicated a fire in the left engine.
The pilot initially hesitated to perform emergency procedures because the aircraft was nearing its destination and no other fire indicators were present. However, the pilot subsequently executed the engine fire checklist, which included shutting off the fuel to the left engine, closing the firewall shutoff valve, and deploying the fire extinguisher. To compensate for the loss of power, the pilot increased power to the right engine.
As the aircraft continued the turn toward final approach, the pilot encountered increasing difficulty maintaining the turn and controlling the aircraft's descent and airspeed. During the maneuver, the pilot's view of the runway was temporarily obstructed by the aircraft's configuration and position. Upon sighting the runway, the pilot noted the aircraft was low and identified a sand dune as a potential obstacle. In an attempt to clear the dune, the pilot increased power, retracted the flaps, and raised the landing gear. Although the aircraft cleared the obstacle, the pilot was unable to realign perfectly with the centerline. The aircraft touched down in the sand to the left of the runway threshold and spun during the ground roll. The accident resulted in no injuries, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a left engine fire warning during the base leg of the landing circuit.
- The loss of power from the left engine made maintaining the right-hand turn increasingly difficult.
- The aircraft's approach was low, necessitating an emergency climb maneuver to clear a sand dune obstacle.