What happened
During the final approach phase of flight toward Paraparau Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden engine failure which led to an onboard fire. In addition to the loss of power and the resulting flames, the flight crew encountered a secondary mechanical issue where the landing gear could not be extended.
Due to the inability to deploy the gear and the ongoing engine fire, the pilot performed a belly landing on the runway. The aircraft type slid for several dozen meters across the surface before coming to a complete stop. While the impact caused significant damage, resulting in the aircraft being declared a total loss, there were no injuries reported among the three crew members on board. All personnel successfully evacuated the wreckage without harm.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the primary contributing factor was an engine failure and fire occurring during the approach. The specific underlying reason for the engine malfunction remains undetermined.