What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation, the flight crew experienced significant mechanical issues while cruising. The co-pilot notified air traffic control that one of the aircraft's engines had failed. In response to this emergency, controllers authorized the crew to divert to Toledo-Express for an unplanned landing.
As the aircraft type was performing its final approach, it collided with overhead power cables. The impact resulted in a crash that ignited a fire, leading to the total destruction of the aircraft. There were 2 fatalities among the occupants, as both the pilot and the crew member perished in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary reason for the engine failure was a failure within the cylinder assembly. Several contributing factors were documented regarding the state of the powerplant:
- A fatigue fracture occurred within the components.
- Issues related to improper maintenance and unapproved modifications were present.
- The engine lubrication system suffered from oil exhaustion.
- The propeller system also experienced oil exhaustion.
- Fatigue was noted in the cylinder head.
- The standpipe had been cut off flush with the bottom of the oil tank.