What happened
During a firefighting mission operating in the Quesnel region, the pilot of the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 6,500 feet when a mechanical issue was identified. The pilot observed a drop in oil pressure accompanied by an oil leak in the left engine.
In an attempt to manage the malfunction, the pilot initiated a shutdown of the left engine. However, during this procedure, the pilot accidentally triggered the fire extinguishing system on the right engine. This error led to the complete loss of power from both engines.
Following the dual engine failure, the pilot descended to a lower altitude and attempted to perform an emergency ditching in the Fraser River. The impact with the water caused the aircraft to be destroyed beyond repair. The pilot survived the incident with slight injuries.
Findings
- The primary cause of the dual engine failure was the accidental activation of the fire extinguishing system on the functional engine during the attempt to shut down the malfunctioning engine.