Incident Summary
Minutes after departure from Port Hardy, the pilot notified air traffic control that the right engine had failed. Permission was obtained to return for a landing. To avoid stalling, the left engine's power was increased to its maximum. The crew continued the descent in marginal weather conditions.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft landed at a high speed and was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance. It overran the landing area and came to rest after colliding with trees in a swampy area. All 51 occupants were evacuated from the aircraft, which was subsequently written off.
Probable Cause
The official finding stated that the right engine failed because of a fatigue fracture of the reduction drive ring gear, necessitating feathering of the propeller. Due to the presence of a fog bank, a steep approach was necessary, resulting in a landing at a higher than normal airspeed. This, coupled with reduced braking action on the wet runway, caused the aircraft to overrun the landing area.