Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) crash, Jun 19, 2016 (1 killed)
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) accident on June 19, 2016 near Ferreira do Alentejo, Baixo Alentejo, Portugal with 1 fatality. Cause:...
- Date: June 19, 2016
- Aircraft: Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
- Location: Ferreira do Alentejo, Baixo Alentejo, Portugal
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Investigation finding as recorded in the input data, not verified in the sources read: after the fracture of the horizontal stabilizer trim attachment, the stabilizer became loose and vibrated until its left side failed. Contributing were inadequate Part 145 inspection of critical parts listed in a service bulletin and weak oversight of the operator.
On 19 June 2016 a Pilatus PC 6 Turbo Porter (D FSCB) was climbing with skydivers from Figueira dos Cavaleiros in Portugal when a loud crack was heard and the aircraft pitched up and yawed. The rear fuselage then broke up in flight; the skydivers who could jump did so, while the pilot was thrown out and killed. The investigation attributed the breakup to a loose, vibrating horizontal stabilizer after a trim attachment fracture.