What happened
On the afternoon of the incident, a single-engine aircraft departed from Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport carrying one pilot and three passengers. The flight was initially cruising at FL230. Upon contacting Palma ARTCC, the pilot received clearance to descend to FL130.
During the descent, the aircraft experienced a significant drop in engine torque accompanied by an increase in turbine temperature. The pilot attempted to address the issue by troubleshooting the fuel supply system and inspecting the fuel selector, but these efforts failed to restore engine performance. As the aircraft continued its descent toward 9,000 feet, the indicated airspeed dropped to 80 knots. At 1722LT, the pilot notified air traffic control of an emergency situation.
Realizing that the aircraft could not maintain flight long enough to reach Palma Airport, the pilot executed a ditching maneuver in the Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft came to rest approximately 27,7 km north of Ibiza Island. While the aircraft subsequently sank and was lost, all four occupants were successfully rescued and sustained no injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of engine power characterized by decreased torque and rising turbine temperatures.
- Troubleshooting of the fuel delivery components did not resolve the mechanical issue.