What happened
On February 7, 2017, a Saab 340A, registration C6-HBW, operated by Western Air Limited, was performing a scheduled commercial flight from Grand Bahama International Airport to Nassau, Bahamas. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a failure in the left main and left essential electrical DC buses.
In response to these electrical malfunctions, the crew decided to return to the airport. During the return, the crew attempted to diagnose the failures but failed to manage the escalating situation effectively. The subsequent approach was unstable, with the pilot intentionally increasing speed due to a lack of flaps. Upon touchdown on runway 06, the left main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to exit the runway.
There were 34 people on board, including 31 passengers and 3 crew members. While there were 3 minor injuries reported among the passengers, no fatalities occurred.
The investigation
The Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) examined the flight data, cockpit voice recordings, and aircraft systems. The investigation focused on the crew's response to the electrical failures, the stability of the landing approach, and the adequacy of the operator's training and regulatory oversight. Investigators also reviewed the use of unapproved flight recorders and the validity of training conducted at an international facility.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was ineffectly managed crew resource management (CRM) and an unstable approach, which directly led to the failure of the left main landing gear during touchdown.
- The crew demonstrated inadequate knowledge of the aircraft's electrical systems, which prevented them from diagnosing and resolving the failures in a timely manner.
- The situation escalated because the crew failed to follow sterile cockpit procedures and did not effectively complete the required checklists.
- A rushed approach to landing without verifying the security of the landing gear contributed to the severity of the gear collapse.
- Regulatory oversight by the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) was found to be insufficient in monitoring the operator's training programs and compliance with recorder requirements.
Safety action
The AAID issued several recommendations to the BCAA and Western Air Limited, including:
- Ensuring all aircraft on the Bahamas registry comply with requirements for installed CVR and FDR.
- Improving the accuracy of emergency checklists to prevent confusion between different aircraft models.
- Strengthening the oversight of training facilities and the validation of training programs conducted abroad.
- Ensuring that operators do not use simulators for different aircraft models (such as the SF340B) to conduct difference training for their specific fleet (SF340A).