SILA AN28 at Bachkar on Jul 16th 2021, radar contact lost, ELT activated, dual engine failure due to icing
Last Update: September 22, 2021 / 18:34:18 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jul 16, 2021
Classification
Accident
Airline
SILA Siberian Light Aviation
Departure
Kedrovy, Russia
Destination
Tomsk, Russia
Aircraft Registration
RA-28728
Aircraft Type
Antonov An-28
ICAO Type Designator
AN28
According to initial information the crew did not report any problems or anomalies with the flight. The crash site is in an area of dense forest which hinders the search as nothing appears to be visible from the air. A search on the ground has been initiated.
The aircraft was found by rescue teams, all occupants survived and are being taken to hospitals. According to preliminary information the crew performed a forced landing in an open area following at least one failed engine. A number of Russian media report quoting survivors both engines of the aircraft had failed.
Russia's Ministry of Emergencies reported the aircraft carried 15 passengers and 3 crew, all were rescued. The captain suffered a fractured leg, all others suffered minor injuries like bruises only. The rescue operation has been completed, 12 people are being flown to Tomsk via a helicopter, the rest are taken to Tomsk via bus.
Russia's MAK opened an investigation into the accident stating the aircraft carried two pilots, two technicians and 15 passengers. There were no fatalities, the aircraft sustained substantial damage. A commission has been formed to investigate the accident.
On Jul 20th 2021 the captain of the flight reported they went into a thick cloud and icing occurred resulting in the failure of both engines. The crew thus took decisions a lightning speed, the passengers had already understood something unusual had happened and followed the instructions to buckle up properly, while the crew began to look out of a location to put the aircraft into. They selected an area with small thin trees. Only when the wheels touched the ground they realized the ground was actually a swamp. The wheels sunk in causing the aircraft to topple over. Fortunately all passengers were buckled in and now hang in their seats upside down. The first officer got out of his seat and helped the passengers out, only after all passengers had been out of the aircraft and in a safe distance they noticed the captain's leg had badly swollen. The ELT was activated and rescuers quickly found their location from the ELT signal and smoke from a fire, they discovered the overturned aircraft but had problems to choose a landing site. The captain underwent surgery to fix his broken leg.
On Jul 21st 2021 meteorologists explained there was an area of high humidity and freezing temperatures in the Bachkar region, ceiling being at about 500-800 meters and tops at about 3000-4000 meters with the temperatures reaching freezing in between. The aircraft was at 2800 meters (about 9000 feet) climbing up to 3000 meters/FL100 when the engines failed likely due to both engine inlets icing up. It needs to be explained why the aircraft entered a zone of potentially dangerous weather conditions and why the anti-ice systems of the engines did not prevent the engines icing up.
On Jul 22nd 2021 Rosaviatsia reported the captain had 7300 flight hours total, 3970 hours on type, the first officer 155 flight hours on type. A secondary cold front was moving over the accident area. The height of the freezing level was 2500 meters. According to preliminary data both engines failed while the aircraft was climbing out of Kedrovy. Rosaviatsia has registered 7 occurrences involving an AN-28 since 1991 associated with engine failure in icing conditions, one resulting in an accident, 3 in serious incidents and 3 in incidents. All events were caused by either human error operating the engine de-icing or by failure of the engine de-icing system.
On Sep 22nd 2021 the MAK released their preliminary report in Russian reporting the aircraft was climbing between 7800 and 8500 feet when the captain noticed ice accretion on metal frames around the windshield and instructed the first officer to engage anti-ice systems including engine anti-ice. The FDR however does not record single action commands like turning the switch for engine anti ice. The aircraft continued to climb until reaching 3100 meters/10170 feet when the aircraft maintained altitude at about 195-220 kph (105-119 knots). Data off the FDR suggest that both engines were icing up. After about one minute of maintaining 3100 meters the right hand propellers feathered and the engine failed, 3 seconds later the left hand propeller feathered and the engine failed. Although the AOM states the engines should not be restarted in icing conditions, the crew attemtped to restart the left hand engine descending through 2500 meters, the engine did not start, and the crew attempted to restart the right hand engine while descending through 1500 meters, again without success. The crew adopted a speed of 200 kph (108 KIAS), AOM recommends 170 kph (92 KIAS). The crew began looking out for a landing site while descending through 300 meters/1000 feet. Starting at 100 meters/330 feet the crew began to pitch up the aircraft and reached close to stall speed upon impact with marshy terrain. No fire erupted.
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jul 16, 2021
Classification
Accident
Airline
SILA Siberian Light Aviation
Departure
Kedrovy, Russia
Destination
Tomsk, Russia
Aircraft Registration
RA-28728
Aircraft Type
Antonov An-28
ICAO Type Designator
AN28
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Newest articles
Fleet type match
Condor A320 near Lausanne on Apr 21st 2024, hydraulic problem
A Condor Airbus A320-200, registration D-AICA performing flight DE-1412 from Munich (Germany) to Fuerteventura,CI (Spain), was enroute at FL340 near…
Fleet type match
United B763 near Providence on Apr 22nd 2024, suspected fuel leak
A United Boeing 767-300, registration N644UA performing flight UA-108 from Washington Dulles,DC (USA) to Munich (Germany), was enroute at FL330 about…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
Your regulation partner, specialists in aviation safety and compliance; providing training, auditing, and consultancy services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways