What happened
During a night flight from Santo Domingo-Las Américas International Airport to Santo Domingo-Herrera Airport, a twin engine airplane experienced a critical mechanical failure. Shortly after departing, the pilot reported a loss of power in the right engine. The crew was unable to successfully feather the propeller, which continued to windmill during the descent.
Due to the inability to maintain a safe altitude with the malfunctioning engine, the pilot performed an emergency ditching. The aircraft impacted the water approximately 800 meters away from the coastline. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury.
Findings
- The right engine suffered a loss of power following takeoff.
- The pilot was unable to feather the propeller on the affected engine.
- The windmilling propeller prevented the aircraft from maintaining sufficient altitude for continued flight.