Baghdad Airport C-130H2 Emergency Landing After Engine Power Loss (86-0412)

Incident Overview and Immediate Response A four-engine aircraft departed Baghdad Airport on a support mission with 32 passengers and a crew of six. Sixty seconds after takeoff, while climbing to 313 feet at 163 knots, the aircraft's defensive system activated. The pilot responded in accordance with applicable directives. After reacting to the defensive alert, the crew determined that engines 1, 3, and 4 had each lost 60% of power. The crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field 7.5 km north of the airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, but all 38 occupants escaped uninjured. U.S. Air Force Maintenance and Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel from the 447th Air Expeditionary Group were called in. They placed explosive charges on the plane and blew up the Hercules on July 7. ## Official Findings The Board President could not find clear and convincing evidence to determine the exact cause of the engine power loss. The Board did find that several factors combined to significantly contribute to the mishap airplane landing partially gear down. These factors included the defensive system alert, the aircraft's low altitude and airspeed at the time of the malfunction, and the decision to respond to the alert at low altitude and airspeed. All mishap airplane systems and performance were normal prior to the defensive system alert. An undetermined malfunction occurred during the defensive reaction that caused three of the four engines to stabilize at 60% RPM, which was not sufficient to maintain flight. The low altitude and airspeed at the time of the malfunction limited the time available for situation analysis and recovery. The mishap crew had never been exposed to a loss of three or four engines on takeoff in the C-130H2 simulator, resulting in an emergency situation the crew had not seen before at low altitude and airspeed. Checklist actions taken by the crew did not recover the engines. The mishap pilot appropriately performed a limited power, controlled descent, and forced landing, resulting in only minor injuries.