What happened
On May 7, 2024, a Pilatus PC-12/47, registered as C-FKGE, was performing an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Chesterfield Inlet to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut, Canada. While the aircraft was descending from 4,000 feet AMSL, the crew heard unusual noises coming from the engine. Shortly thereafter, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B engine suffered a loss of power.
In response to the failure, the two crew members executed the required memory items for engine power loss and declared a MAYDAY. The flight, which included one passenger, ended with an emergency landing on sea ice approximately five miles east of Rankin Inlet Airport. The aircraft's landing gear was in the retracted position during the impact. There were no injuries reported among the two crew members or the single passenger, though the aircraft sustained serious damage.
The investigation
Following the occurrence, the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was manually activated after failing to trigger automatically upon impact. The investigation into the incident was opened by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada to determine the specific mechanics behind the engine's failure.