Swearingen SA226T Merlin crash, Jun 20, 2008 (3 killed)
Swearingen SA226T Merlin accident on June 20, 2008 near Bergen, Hordaland, Norway with 3 fatalities. Cause: Loss of control during a slow-flight and...
- Date: June 20, 2008
- Aircraft: Swearingen SA226T Merlin
- Location: Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Loss of control during a slow-flight and stall exercise in cloud and turbulence. The stall protection system had been disabled, and the test had been poorly organised with unclear roles. The investigation also pointed to training that focused on minimum altitude loss over breaking the stall.
A Helitrans Merlin IIIB was flying a first-officer skill test for a candidate in low cloud, rain and turbulence near Bergen. The aircraft was flown in cloud, and after a slow-flight demonstration the crew lost control of attitude and airspeed. It struck the sea nearly level about 37 seconds later and all three on board died.