New Delhi, February 11 The crew of India One Air's Cessna Caravan attempted to land the aircraft in an open field in Rourkela on January 10, but during the final approach, the plane struck a tree and a power line, resulting in a crash landing that killed one person and injured three others, according to the AAIB's preliminary report.
While operating the flight from Bhubaneshwar to Rourkela with four passengers on board, the crew noticed low engine oil pressure as well as a reduction in engine power, and decided to make an emergency landing at the nearest suitable site, AAIB said.
"After assessing the terrain options, an initial attempt to reach a dry riverbed was discontinued due to insufficient height, and the crew selected an alternate open field that appeared clear of major obstacles. However, during the final approach, the aircraft struck the top of a tree and the power line very close to the tree. The crew attempted to avoid the power line, but the aircraft lost altitude and impacted the ground," the AAIB has said.
The Cessna Grand Caravan 208BEX aircraft, VT-KSS, powered by a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-140 engine, was owned by Redound Aviation Ltd, according to the report.
In its preliminary report on the January 10 accident that killed one person and injured three others near Rourkela in Odisha, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) did not provide any interim recommendations.
AAIB said that the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data have been downloaded and are being analyzed. The engine has been secured for further detailed examination.
Aircraft maintenance records, tech log records, and all relevant aircraft approvals have been obtained for scrutiny, it added.
Also, accredited representatives from the US NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and TSB (Transportation Safety Board) of Canada have been appointed to assist in the investigation.
