Flight History
On 25 November 2013, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, registered P2-SAH and operated by Tropicair, departed Kamusi, Western Province, at 0312 UTC on an IFR charter flight to Purari River, Gulf Province. The aircraft carried one pilot and nine passengers. Earlier that day, it had flown from Port Moresby to Kamusi, then to Hivaro and back to Kamusi before the accident flight. The planned route was to continue from Purari River to Vailala and then Port Moresby.
Engine Failure
After a normal takeoff and climb from Kamusi, the pilot leveled off at 9,000 ft and completed the top-of-climb checklist. Approximately two minutes into the cruise, a loud 'pop' sound occurred, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot configured the aircraft for best glide speed at 95 knots and turned right toward the coast and rivers to the south. He completed the Phase-1 memory recall items for engine failure in flight.
Emergency Procedures
The passenger in the right pilot seat switched on the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and broadcast a MAYDAY on the area frequency at 0332 due to engine failure. Using the GPS database, the pilot identified Kibeni airstrip on the eastern side of the Palbuna River. The pilot and the assisting passenger attempted an engine restart using the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) procedure, but were unsuccessful. The passenger continued to provide position reports and communicate with other aircraft.
Forced Landing and Ditching
At about 3,000 ft AMSL, the pilot requested radio silence on the area frequency to concentrate on the approach to Kibeni airstrip. He flew a left-hand circuit to land in a southwesterly direction. During the final approach, he selected full flaps, which arrested the rate of descent, but the aircraft's higher-than-normal speed during the flare caused it to float and touch down halfway along the disused 430-meter airstrip. The airstrip, overgrown with grass and weeds, was about 60 ft above the river and 120 ft AMSL, with trees and vegetation on the slope down to the river.
The aircraft bounced three times. With insufficient runway remaining to stop, the pilot pulled back on the control column to clear trees on the slope. The aircraft became airborne and struck the crown of a coconut palm nearly level with the airstrip. The pilot then banked hard left to attempt a landing or ditching along the river, avoiding trees on the opposite bank. He pushed forward on the control column to avoid stalling and leveled the wings before the aircraft impacted the water.
Rescue
The aircraft came to rest inverted, with the cockpit and forward cabin submerged and filling with water. After a short delay to gain his bearings underwater, the pilot unbuckled his harness, opened the left cockpit door, swam to the rear, opened the right rear cabin door, and helped the surviving passengers to safety on the river bank. He made several attempts to reach those still inside the aircraft before determining he could do no more. He then administered first aid using materials from the aircraft's first aid kit. Approximately 20 minutes later, villagers arrived by canoe and transported the pilot and surviving passengers to Kibeni village across the river. About 90 minutes after the accident, rescuers airlifted the survivors by helicopter to Kopi, located 44 km northeast of Kibeni.