Crash plane Devon man escaped from had engine failure

Marc Astley
Authored by Marc Astley
Posted Sunday, October 14, 2012 - 9:52pm

More dramatic images have been emerging of the wrekage of a triple fatal plane crash that a Devon man miraculously survived.

Michael Hudson, 23, who The Exeter Daily understands is from Teignmouth, was visiting Antigua en route to Montserrat for a business trip when plane plunged to the ground just after 4pm last Sunday (Oct 7).

The pilot, Captain Jason Forbes and 29-year-old Annya Duncan, of Jamaica, were killed on impact.

The other passenger, 57-year-old Sandrama Poligadu, of Guyana, was taken to hospital but died shortly after.

Mr Hudson is understood to have suffered a broken leg and arm as well as cuts and bruises.

He is being comforted by his father who flew to be by his bedside and British Consulate officials have been helping the family.

Meanwhile, a preliminary report into the crash has been published (see below).

It says that at the time of the crash the right hand engine was not producing power and quantities of water were found in the fuel system.

The full report is below:

 

PRELIMINARY REPORT

AA NO.7AC/1/99

ACCIDENT

Aircraft Type and Registration: Britten-Norman BN2A-26 Islander, VP-MON serial number 082)

No & Type of Engines: 2 Lycoming O-540-E4C5 piston engines

Year of Manufacture: 1969

Location V.C. Bird International Airport, Antigua (TAPA)

Date & Time (UTC): 7 October 2012 at 2010 hrs Type of Flight: Commercial Air Transport (Passenger) Persons on Board: Crew: 1 Passengers: 3 Injuries: Crew 1 (fatal) Passengers 2 (fatal) 1 (serious) Nature of Damage: Aircraft destroyed Commander's Licence: Commercial Pilot's Licence Commander's Age: 31 years Commander's Flying Experience: 710 hours total of which 510 were on type Last 28 days- 25 hours Last 24 hours – 0.5 hours Information Source: ECCAA Accident Investigation All times in this report are UTC; Antigua time is UTC - 4 hrs

The investigation

The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority was informed of the accident immediately, and senior staff attended the accident site without delay.

The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority began an investigation under the Antigua and Barbuda Civil Aviation Regulations 2004. In accordance with established international arrangements, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the United Kingdom, representing the State of Design and Manufacture of the aircraft, and (through its registration in a British Overseas Territory) the State of Operator, appointed an Accredited Representative to participate in the investigation. The AAIB Accredited Representative is supported by an AAIB Advisor. Britten-Norman, the aircraft manufacturer, has been informed of the accident and has offered assistance. Air Safety Support International (ASSI), which performs regulatory oversight of the aircraft operator, has been informed of the accident and is cooperating with the investigation. Montserrat Airways Limited, the operator, is also cooperating with the investigation.

Initial investigative activity focused on examination of the aircraft wreckage and accident site, gathering of evidence from witnesses, and examination of technical records. Further investigation will encompass all operational and engineering matters relevant to the accident. A comprehensive accident report will be published in due course.

History of the flight

The aircraft, which had flown earlier during the day, was on a commercial air transport (passenger) flight from V.C. Bird International Airport, Antigua (TAPA), to John A. Osborne Airport, Montserrat (TRPG), with the pilot and three passengers on board. Weather conditions at the time of departure were good, though convective clouds and heavy rain showers had passed over the airport while the aircraft was parked before flight.

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft was observed to yaw to the right, and to cease climbing. The aircraft then descended rapidly, apparently out of control. The aircraft impacted the ground within the airport perimeter, right wingtip first and steeply banked to the right, at low forward speed. Ground marks and damage to the wing tips and nose indicate that the aircraft cart-wheeled before coming to rest erect. The fuselage forward of the wings was destroyed; there was comparatively less damage to the rear part of the aircraft.

The pilot and two passengers, both of whom were seated in the forward part of the cabin, were fatally injured. Another passenger, seated in the rear-most row of seats, was seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

Examination of the wreckage indicates that the number two (right-hand) engine was not producing power at the time of impact, and investigation of the fuel system feeding that engine found significant quantities of water.

Following failure of one of the two engines on the Islander aircraft, the failed engine's propeller should be feathered, to reduce the drag produced. Following successful feathering, continued flight should be possible. Examination of the right-hand propeller showed that it was not in the feathered position.

Disclaimer: This bulletin contains facts which have been determined up to the time of issue. This information is published to inform the aviation industry and the public of the general circumstances of accidents and must necessarily be regarded as tentative and subject to alteration or correction if additional evidence becomes available.

Extracts can be published without specific permission providing that the source is duly acknowledged.

 

© copyright East Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority 2012

 

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