What happened
A flight departing from Rovno Airport for Vladimirets experienced a catastrophic engine failure shortly after takeoff. The single-engine aircraft, carrying two pilots and 13 passengers, began its journey at 14:07 local time. Approximately two minutes into the flight, air traffic control notified the crew of an approaching cold front characterized by rain and turbulence roughly 10 km ahead of their position. The crew did not acknowledge this warning and proceeded with the flight.
Eight minutes after departure, while operating at a low altitude amidst heavy rainfall, the engine ceased functioning. This loss of power caused the aircraft to lose altitude, eventually striking treetops before crashing into a forest area. While the aircraft was destroyed in the impact, all 15 occupants sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the crew, along with meteorological and operational departments, had not communicated the potential for deteriorating weather conditions during the pre-flight phase. The primary factor in the engine failure was determined to be excessive rainwater entering the engine compartment because the cowlings were not properly secured in a timely manner. Additionally, the pilot's decision to continue the flight despite the incoming weather front contributed to the accident.