No fatalities

Accident During Night Approach to Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport (OY-BZW)

Copenhagen-Kastrup, DenmarkLanding (descent or approach)

On January 16, 1991, a Swearingen SA226 Metro II (registration OY-BZW) operated by Muk Air was involved in an aviation accident near Copenhagen-Kastrup, Denmark during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the right engine caused by the failure of the turbine assembly retention guide vane, which caused a reduction of the hydraulic pressure, preventing the nose gear to be lowered. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

During a night approach to runway 22L at Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the right engine failed and the nose gear failed to deploy. The aircraft landed on its nose and was damaged beyond repair; both pilots escaped uninjured.

Incident Overview

While conducting a night approach to runway 22L at Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the aircraft experienced a failure of its right engine. In response, the flight crew feathered the right propeller. During the same approach, the nose gear failed to deploy. The crew attempted manual recycling of the landing gear system, but this action did not resolve the issue. The approach was continued with the nose gear retracted.

Engine Failure

The right engine failure occurred as the aircraft neared the airport. The crew feathered the propeller to reduce drag. Subsequent investigation revealed that the engine failure resulted from the failure of the turbine assembly retention guide vane.

Nose Gear Malfunction

The nose gear did not extend when commanded. Manual recycling, a procedure to manually cycle the gear, proved ineffective. The loss of hydraulic pressure, caused by the engine failure, prevented the nose gear from lowering. The crew decided to proceed with the landing using the available systems.

Landing and Aftermath

The aircraft landed on its nose, touched down on the runway, and rolled for several dozen meters before coming to rest on the main runway. Both pilots exited the aircraft without injury. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it beyond economical repair.

Probable Cause

According to the official accident investigation, the probable cause was the failure of the right engine due to the failure of the turbine assembly retention guide vane. This engine failure led to a reduction in hydraulic pressure, which in turn prevented the nose gear from being lowered.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 16 Jan 1991 Swearingen SA226 Metro II accident near Copenhagen-Kastrup, Denmark?

During a night approach to runway 22L at Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the right engine failed and the nose gear failed to deploy. The aircraft landed on its nose and was damaged beyond repair; both pilots escaped uninjured.

Were there any fatalities in the 16 Jan 1991 Swearingen SA226 Metro II accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 16 Jan 1991 involved a Swearingen SA226 Metro II, registration OY-BZW, operated by Muk Air, at Copenhagen-Kastrup, Denmark.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Failure of the right engine caused by the failure of the turbine assembly retention guide vane, which caused a reduction of the hydraulic pressure, preventing the nose gear to be lowered.