What happened
On 3 October 2022, a Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander BN2A-21, registration VHWQA, was performing a non-scheduled flight carrying six students and one pilot. The flight, operated by Torres Strait Air, was traveling from Saibai Island Airport to Horn Island Airport in Queensland.
While flying approximately 19 km northeast of Moa Island, the aircraft's engines began to surge. In response to the mechanical issues, the pilot attempted to divert the aircraft toward Kubin Airport. However, as the plane moved south of the Saint Pauls township, the pilot realized the aircraft lacked the necessary altitude to complete the approach to the runway.
To avoid a more dangerous situation, the pilot executed a forced landing on a road located roughly 7 km east-northeast of Kubin Airport. Although the aircraft sustained substantial damage, there were no injuries reported among the seven people on board.
Findings
- Both engines experienced surging during the flight phase.