What happened
While returning to Europe following a stop at the AirVenture airshow in Oshkinesis, the crew of the aircraft was en route to Narsarsuaq, Greenland. After a fuel stop in Goose Bay, the flight was cruising at FL180 under mostly visual meteorological conditions. During a descent toward the SIMNI reporting point, the crew noticed an unusual electrical smell and a rapid increase in cabin altitude.
At 1316LT, the pilot declared an urgency situation to Nuuk Information, reporting air conditioning issues and low oil pressure. The engine performance began to degrade as manifold pressure dropped significantly. Despite attempts to adjust the mixture and throttle, the engine nearly stalled. The pilot subsequently declared a distress situation at 12,000 feet, noting high propeller RPM and an intention to reach the coastline. As the aircraft descended through 7,000 feet, the propeller RPM rose to 3,000, and oil pressure dropped to zero. To prevent further mechanical damage, the pilot shut down the engine.
Realizing the aircraft could not reach land, the pilot notified air traffic services of the intended ditching coordinates. The crew prepared for impact by securing survival suits and life raft equipment. An RDAF surveillance aircraft observed the aircraft gliding through a cloud layer. At 1333LT, the pilot performed a controlled ditching at approximately 3,300 feet. The aircraft hit the water, decelerated heavily, and remained afloat. The two occupants successfully deployed a life raft and exited the aircraft. A rescue boat from a nearby inspection ship recovered the crew at 1423LT. The aircraft sank roughly two hours later.
Findings
- The engine experienced a critical loss of oil pressure.
- The pilot intentionally shut down the engine to mitigate mechanical damage during the descent.