What happened
On 25 June 2001, the Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante, registration VH-OZG, departed Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport for a charter flight to Griffith. The aircraft was carrying nine people, including the pilot and eight passengers. During the flight at 10,000 feet, the pilot observed a master caution light and a warning indicating the right generator had failed. Although the pilot initially believed the issue was resolved after a reset, a second master warning soon followed, accompanied by multiple circuit breaker trips and a right engine fire alarm.
The pilot attempted to follow emergency procedures to manage the fire, but encountered mechanical difficulties. Specifically, the right fuel condition lever would not move to the cut-off position, and the propeller lever failed to remain in the feathered detent. Despite discharging the fire extinguisher bottle, the fire persisted. Passengers observed flames in the right engine nacelle and white smoke entering the cabin. After an unsuccessful attempt to land at Young due to heavy fog, the pilot diverted to Cootamundra.
As the aircraft approached Cootamundra, thick smoke entered the cabin, prompting a MAYDAY call. During the final approach, the pilot failed to receive an indication that the landing gear had extended. Due to the urgency of the situation, the pilot did not perform the manual extension procedure and instructed passengers to prepare for a belly landing. The aircraft touched down with only the right main gear extended, approximately 260 meters past the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the aircraft settled on its nose and veered off the runway onto the grass. There were zero fatalities and zero injuries among the occupants.
Findings
- The pilot was unable to successfully shut off the fuel supply to the right engine because the fuel condition lever was stuck.
- Mechanical failure of the fuel condition lever and propeller lever prevented the effective suppression of the engine fire.
- The pilot's decision to bypass the manual landing gear extension procedure contributed to the aircraft landing on its nose.