What happened
During an approach to Runway 29 at Esperance, the Swearingle SA226TC was operating in a landing configuration with gear extended and flaps partially deployed. While the pilot was reducing power on final approach at approximately 1,100 feet, the right engine suffered a flameout. The crew attempted to manage the failure by increasing power on the remaining engine and feathering the right propeller; however, the aircraft began a right-hand bank that drifted away from the runway centerline.
Despite maintaining an airspeed above the minimum control speed, the pilot was unable to counteract the turn using rudder and aileron. Realizing the aircraft would land short of the airfield, the pilot steered toward a clear paddock, eventually maneuvering to avoid a power pole. During the landing, the right wing tip struck the ground, followed by a heavy impact that collapsed the nose gear. The aircraft slid 188 metres before coming to a stop. Although a fuel leak under the left engine ignited a fire, the occupants evacuated successfully before the flames consumed most of the airframe.
Findings
An investigation determined that the right engine failed due to fuel starvation caused by a mechanical failure within the fuel control drive train. Specifically, a spur gear experienced significant wear and lost five teeth, which prevented proper fuel delivery. This degradation was traced back to the torque sensor housing becoming loose, likely due to engine-induced vibrations that matched the housing's natural frequency.
Additional contributing factors included:
- The vulnerability of the torque sensor housing to vibration during standard engine operation.
- The aircraft was in a landing configuration that made maintaining the approach path difficult following an engine loss.
- The operator's manual did not adequately account for the specific handling and performance limitations of this aircraft type during an engine failure while configured for landing.