What happened
During a scheduled ferry flight from Dillingham Airport toward Anchorage, an aircraft experienced significant mechanical issues immediately following departure. While climbing at meto power, the right engine began surging, which necessitated an emergency shutdown by the crew. Following this failure, the flight crew initiated a return to the airport, flying a circuit pattern before beginning their descent.
As the aircraft transitioned to its final approach, it struck trees and crashed in a forested area situated a few hundred yards short of runway 01. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Despite the severity of the crash, all three occupants managed to exit the wreckage and sustained only minor injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary cause was an engine malfunction occurring during the initial climb phase, triggered by the failure of the exhaust stacks. Several technical issues contributed to the incident, including:
- A broken exhaust stack and a subsequent leak
- Material failure within the engine components
- Overheating of the BMEP conduit
- Malfunctioning governors and failed power indicators
- An active fire warning light for the right engine during the takeoff roll
Additionally, it was determined that the pilot-in-command did not adhere to established approved procedures during the emergency.