What happened
During a charter mission intended to transport passengers and support gear for the Paris-Dakar Rally, an aircraft experienced a mechanical failure shortly after departing. While performing its initial climb, the left engine ceased operation, prompting the crew to feather the propeller.
In response to the engine loss, the flight crew initiated an emergency return to the airfield. As the aircraft approached the runway on final approach, the deployment of the landing gear at an altitude of approximately 30 to 40 feet caused the plane to become unstable. This instability resulted in the aircraft touching down to the right of the runway strip and sliding into a nearby field.
Upon coming to a stop in the grassy area, the heat from the engines ignited the surrounding dry vegetation. The resulting fire spread to the airframe, leading to the total destruction of the aircraft. Despite the intensity of the flames, all 17 occupants managed to evacuate the plane without sustaining any injuries.
Findings
- The sequence of events began with a left engine failure during the climb phase.
- The extension of the undercarriage at low altitude contributed to the loss of flight stability during the final approach.