Flight History
On 3 December 1993, a Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander, registered C-GMOP, departed Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, on a night visual flight rules (VFR) flight to the Inuvik townsite airstrip. The aircraft was owned and operated by Arctic Wings and Rotors. On board were the pilot and six passengers. The pilot took off from runway 09 at 1706:34 mountain standard time (MST) and turned the aircraft to a southerly direction.
Engine Failure and Loss of Control
Shortly after the turn, the right engine, a Textron Lycoming IO540-K1B5, lost all power. At 1710:40, the pilot reported to the Tuktoyaktuk Flight Service Station (FSS) that he had an engine problem and was trying to return to the airport. At 1711:44, he reported that he was heading back to the airport. At 1711:58, he indicated he was six miles from the airport. The FSS specialist asked if he was declaring an emergency, and the pilot's response was indecisive. During the last radio transmission, which lasted approximately 15 seconds and ended at 1713:03, the pilot's voice showed signs of stress but did not provide further details on the problem. The pilot did not report his altitude during these conversations.
Accident Site
When the aircraft did not return to the airport, an air and ground search was initiated. The aircraft was located on an ice-covered lake approximately eight miles southeast of the airport. It had struck the ice in a steep nose-down attitude. The engines and front of the aircraft penetrated the approximately two-foot-thick ice layer, while the remainder of the fuselage, wings, and empennage remained on the ice surface. The seven occupants were fatally injured. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness at approximately 1713 MST, at latitude 69°20'N, longitude 132°56'W, at an elevation of about 50 feet above sea level.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that a magneto impulse coupling worn beyond prescribed limits caused the failure of the right engine. Following the engine failure, the pilot mistrimmed the rudder and was unable to maintain control of the aircraft.