On April 14, 1993, a Swearingen SA226 Metro II (registration VH-UZS) operated by Jetcraft Air Cargo was involved in an aviation accident near Mackay, Australia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The report concludes that the engine power loss was caused by failure of the fuel pump high pressure relief valve. The pilot, believing that the landing gear was still retracted, initiated action to avoid a wheels-up landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A freight charter aircraft experienced left engine power loss 150 km southeast of Mackay. During landing on runway 14, a mistaken belief that the gear was up prompted a late go-around, resulting in a gear collapse and substantial damage.
Incident Overview
A freight charter aircraft was in cruise at 20,000 ft (FL200) approximately 150 km southeast of Mackay when the left engine lost power. The crew was unable to restart the engine and proceeded to land on runway 14 at Mackay.
Landing Sequence
During the approach, the pilot initiated a single-engine go-around after developing the mistaken impression that the landing gear was not extended. Control was temporarily lost but regained, and the aircraft touched down on the flight strip to the left of the runway, about 500 m before the runway end. During the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Official Findings
The investigation determined that the engine power loss resulted from a failure of the fuel pump high pressure relief valve. The pilot's decision to initiate action to avoid a wheels-up landing was prompted by the belief that the landing gear was still retracted. This action was initiated too late in the landing approach for a successful outcome.
Probable cause
The report concludes that the engine power loss was caused by failure of the fuel pump high pressure relief valve. The pilot, believing that the landing gear was still retracted, initiated action to avoid a wheels-up landing. This action was initiated too late in the landing approach for a successful outcome.