Life Flight Network - Non-injury incident

Date: 03/20/07 1500  PDT

Program: Life Flight Network
	2801 N. Gantenbein Ave
	Portland, OR  97227

Type: Turbo Commander
Tail #: 290PF
Operator/Vendor: AeroAir

Weather: Winds 12 k from West, visibilty 6 miles, ceiling clear below 12,000, temperature 18 degrees C 

Team: No injuries reported. 

Description: 
	On March 20, 2007 at about 1500 PDT, Turbo Commander 290PF with two
	medical crewmembers aboard, was on approach to landing at The Dalles
	Airport.  On short final, first the right, and shortly thereafter,
	the left engine completely lost power.  The pilot in command (PIC)
	who was flying the aircraft feathered both propellers and completed a
	power out landing to the paved surface.  The aircraft was brought to a
	halt on a taxiway off of the active runway.  There were no injuries
	nor did the aircraft sustain any damage.
	
	A dual engine flame-out is an extremely rare occurrence in aviation. 
	From a mechanical perspective, there are two likely causative agents: 
	fuel exhaustion and fuel starvation.  Both of these potentials were
	thoroughly examined and dismissed.
	
	The flight had been operated in icing conditions during the decent
	from the cruising altitude of 15,000 feet.  Crew interviews indicated
	that the crew had actively utilized the aircraft de-icing system but
	that the engine anti-ice/ignitors were not properly employed during
	the descent.   The PIC failed to properly use the engine
	anti-ice/ignitor system.  Based upon all of the information gathered
	regarding this flight, the cause of this event is pilot error.
	
	
	

Source: Paula Derr, Operations Manager, Life Flight Network

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The CONCERN network shares verified information to alert medical transport programs when an accident / incident has occurred. Please share the above information with your program staff. If you have further questions, please contact the CONCERN Coordinator, David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email: coordinator@concern-network.org.

Copyright 2006 ASTNA