Accident Overview
A VFR scheduled commercial air transport flight operating from VC Bird International Airport, Antigua, to John A Osborne Airport, Montserrat, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was on its fourth sector of the day. The accident occurred during departure from Runway 07, despite westerly surface winds, with a cumulonimbus cloud present on the approach. The flight carried the pilot, three passengers, and baggage weighing 150 lb. The fuel load was 65 USG of AVGAS, and the takeoff mass was 5,540 lb, below the structural maximum of 6,600 lb. Performance-regulated takeoff weight at 24 °C exceeded the structural limit.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported for duty at 1130 hrs and operated the aircraft to VC Bird. Prior to this flight, another pilot had flown two sectors. After arrival, the airport closed temporarily to VFR traffic due to cumulonimbus activity and heavy rain, then reopened. The passengers and pilot traveled by bus to the aircraft; baggage was loaded into the rear compartment. The pilot did not carry out a fuel system water drain check—the operations manual did not require it. The pilot obtained start clearance, surface wind information (240° at 10 kts), and Montserrat weather. After taxiing to holding position Bravo, the pilot was cleared to enter, backtrack, and line up on Runway 07. The controller reported weather from the tower, and the pilot requested a left-hand turn-out. Surface wind was given as 270° at 10 kts, and the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. The aircraft entered the runway at Bravo but did not backtrack. No power checks were performed; evidence indicated such checks were only done on the first flight of the day.
Takeoff and initial climb appeared normal. Witness reports and analysis placed the normal climb to between 200 and 300 ft above ground. The aircraft then appeared to sink slightly without yawing or rolling, before yawing right, rolling right, and pitching nose-down into an incipient spin to the right. The surviving passenger recalled the stall warning sounded and a red light illuminated continuously until impact. Witnesses described the incipient spin continuing until the aircraft struck the ground. ATC activated the crash alarm, and rescue and firefighting services responded promptly. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured on impact. Another passenger succumbed to injuries before extrication. The third passenger sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized.
Investigation Findings
The investigation identified causal factors: 1. Significant rainfall and anomalies in the aircraft’s fuel filler neck and cap introduced water into the right-hand fuel tank. 2. Shortly after takeoff, water from the right tank entered the engine fuel system, causing the engine to stop. 3. Control was not retained after the right-hand engine stopped. Contributing factors: 1. No pre-flight water drain check was carried out, which would have detected the water. 2. Possible performance-reducing windshear during the downwind departure may have reduced airspeed before the stall.
Probable Cause
The investigation identified the following causal factors: 1. Significant rainfall, and anomalies in the aircraft’s fuel filler neck and cap, led to the presence of water in the right-hand fuel tank, 2. Shortly after takeoff, the water in the right-hand fuel tank entered the engine fuel system causing the engine to stop running, 3. Control of the aircraft was not retained after the right-hand engine stopped. Contributing factors: 1. No pre-flight water drain check was carried out; such a check would have allowed the presence of water in the right-hand fuel tank to be detected and corrective action taken. 2. It is possible that performance-reducing windshear, encountered during the downwind departure, contributed to a reduction in airspeed shortly before the aircraft stalled.