ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Grand Caravan VH-NTQ Beagle Bay Airport, WA (BEE)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 14 January 2010
Time:06:45
Type:Silhouette image of generic C208 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:Broome Aviation
Registration: VH-NTQ
MSN: 208B0635
First flight: 1997
Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Beagle Bay Airport, WA (BEE) (   Australia)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Broome Airport, WA (BME/YBRM), Australia
Destination airport:Koolan Island Airport, WA (YKLI), Australia
Narrative:
A Cessna 208B Caravan, registered VH-NTQ, was en-route from Broome to Koolan Island, Western Australia (WA) at an altitude of about 9,500 ft, when the pilot noticed a drop in the engine torque indication, with a corresponding drop in the engine oil pressure indication. The pilot diverted to the nearest airstrip, which was Beagle Bay, WA. The pilot shut the engine down when the low oil pressure warning light illuminated and conducted a landing at Beagle Bay airstrip. The aircraft overran the airstrip, coming to rest upside down after impacting a mound of dirt. The aircraft was seriously damaged. The pilot, who was the only occupant, sustained minor injuries.

Probable Cause:

From the evidence available it was evident that the engine had a substantial in-flight oil leak, which necessitated the in-flight shut down of the engine and a diversion to the nearest available airstrip.
The accident damage to the engine in the area of the apparent oil leak precluded a conclusive finding as to the source of the leak. Although the detailed examination of the oil tube attachment lug fracture surfaces was inconclusive, the oil tube remained the most likely source of the oil leak. Evidence from other oil tube failures indicated that significant vibratory loading can cause the oil tube attachment lugs to fracture in the manner observed in the oil tube fitted to VH-NTQ. There was no evidence that the transfer tube was subjected to vibration from a compressor turbine or power turbine blade failure or of an incorrectly fitted engine mount. There was also no evidence of a pre-accident defect that would have caused a reduction in actual engine torque.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: ATSB (Australia)
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 273 days (9 months)
Accident number: AO-2010-003
Download report: Summary report

Classification:

Forced landing on runway

Sources:
» ATSB AO-2010-003


Follow-up / safety actions
Following the accident, CASA issued an airworthiness bulletin, AWB 72-004 Issue 1, on 8 February 2010 to all Cessna 208 aircraft operators in Australia. The bulletin highlighted previous SDR failures and the possibility of the accident aircraft having experienced the same problem. The bulletin recommended the inspection of the engine oil transfer tube attachment lugs for cracks and the inspection of the engine vibration isolator mounts for correct installation. Any defects in the area of the vibration mounts and oil tubes were to be reported to CASA post inspection.

Photos

photo of Cessna-208B-Grand-Caravan-VH-NTQ
accident date: 14-01-2010
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: VH-NTQ
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Broome Airport, WA to Koolan Island Airport, WA as the crow flies is 259 km (162 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Cessna 208

  • 3000+ built
  • 154th loss
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 Australia
  • 92nd worst accident (at the time)
  • 97th worst accident (currently)
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