Introduction
On 8 April 2015, a Shorts SC7 Skyvan, registration OE-FDN, operated by Pink Aviation Services, was conducting a VFR ferry flight from Landsberg (ETSA) to Klatovy (LKKT). The aircraft was crewed by an instructor and a pilot undergoing type training. The flight was intended to include stall exercises.
Flight Details
The aircraft departed ETSA at 12:39 UTC under visual meteorological conditions. It climbed to flight level 95 and cruised at 150 knots. At approximately 13:31, about 15 nautical miles southwest of LKKT, the aircraft's speed reduced to 80–110 knots, likely indicating the start of stall training.
Incident Sequence
At 13:31:20, the crew heard a loud bang from the right side of the aircraft. Simultaneously, the right engine's RPM, torque, and oil pressure dropped. Smoke was observed from the rear of the right engine, and shortly thereafter, a fuel odor was detected in the cabin. The fuel quantity indicator for the right tank showed a continuous decrease.
The instructor, seated in the right seat, took control. He set the right engine condition lever to "Stop" and feathered the propeller. As no engine fire warning light illuminated and no fire was visible, the fire extinguisher was not used. The crew proceeded with single-engine procedures and continued to LKKT.
Aircraft Damage
After landing and taxiing, a technical inspection revealed a rupture in the lower skin of the right engine cowling. The engine (Honeywell TPE331-2-201A, serial number P90259) had suffered a disintegration of the second and third stage turbine wheels. Larger fragments pierced the combustion chamber and engine casing, exiting through the cowling. Smaller fragments caused multiple punctures in the right side of the fuselage and the rubber fuel tank bladder, resulting in a fuel leak. The fuel contaminated the cabin floor and the area beneath the floor. No primary structural elements of the fuselage were damaged.
The damaged engine was sent to the manufacturer for expert examination.
Aftermath
During taxi to the parking area, leaking fuel contaminated approximately 80–100 square meters of the apron. A local fire brigade was called to mitigate the spill. The operator reported the incident to Austro Control on 8 April 2015, and the Czech investigation authority (ÚZPLN) was notified on 13 April after a reminder. The event was classified as a serious incident. The final report was issued on 18 December 2017.