What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation flying from Hartford toward Charlotte, the pilot of the aircraft notified air traffic control regarding mechanical issues. During the cruise phase of the flight, the aircraft suffered a loss of 2,000 feet in altitude before entering an uncontrolled descent. The flight ended when the plane crashed into a field. The pilot sustained serious injuries during the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the primary cause was an uncontrolled descent resulting from issues within the engine structure. Specifically, the right engine's inbound mount detached during flight. This failure involved the separation of engine components, including the mount and vibration isolators, due to material failure. The pilot had previously reported a pitch-up motion while the autopilot was disengaged. The aircraft was recovered from the descent experiencing light g-loads, but the structural disintegration of the engine assembly led to the loss of control.