Conquest Air (Cargo) Convair C-131F down.

[Hotel Tango]

News coming in that a Conquest Air Convair C-131B has ditched in the sea off the Florida coast on its way to OPF (Opa Locka), Florida. One person has been rescued.

[Zlinguy]

Been following this...I have an old acquaintance working there

[Airbubba]

N145GT, a 1955 C-131B.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N145GT/history/20190208/1613Z/tracklog

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n145gt#1f6fa5ea

[Hotel Tango]

Because of my love for these oldies I happened to photograph one just last November! This is not the actual aircraft involved. Very sad. Delighted to hear that one crew member has been rescued and sincerely hope the other will be too.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/924/WNtDwN.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/poWNtDwNj)

[Zlinguy]

Apparently a "planned" ditching - at least 1 pilot made it into a liferaft and was rescued by the Coast Guard. Local news here has a video showing the left wing detached at the root and floating inverted - engine detached and gear retracted.

Weather here today is very benign and very calm seas.

[Hotel Tango]

Correct AirBubba. I had heard it was "45" and incorrectly assumed N345GS.

[DaveReidUK]

Presumably operating Conquest Air's daily Opa Locka/Bahamas freight schedule.

[Hotel Tango]

Just asking, should anyone know, is that a life raft from the aircraft or maybe one dropped by the Coast Guard?

[Airbubba]

A source tells CBS4’s Jim DeFede the survivor notified the Coast Guard that the other passenger was the pilot of the aircraft, a 71-year-old man who the survivor said was still strapped into his seat when the plane submerged. The survivor believes the pilot could not have made it out.

Video of the helo rescue in the article linked below.

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/02/08/small-plane-crash-miami/ (https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/02/08/small-plane-crash-miami/)

[JanetFlight]

Sorry foor the slightly offtopic...i read in another site the PIC rescued was an experient 71 years old captain (my respect).
But here is my main question...could be allowed doing commercial service (i suppose Conquest does Commercial Air Cargo Ops) a pilot in command with 70plus years old age...?
Im not 100% sute but AFAIK here in EASA Realms that would be a bit on the verge...?
Tks and i pray for the other crew member that could also be rescued soon and safe!

[Screaming_Eagle]

A good friend of mine is the missing pilot. I've known him for more than 30 years and he was one of the best stick and rudder guys I have ever known.

[Zlinguy]

Sorry foor the slightly offtopic...i read in another site the PIC rescued was an experient 71 years old captain (my respect).
But here is my main question...could be allowed doing commercial service (i suppose Conquest does Commercial Air Cargo Ops) a pilot in command with 70plus years old age...?
Im not 100% sute but AFAIK here in EASA Realms that would be a bit on the verge...?
Tks and i pray for the other crew member that could also be rescued soon and safe!

Captain (who was the crewmember lost) was 68. Pretty sure they were operating under CFR Part 125, so, no age 65 restriction.

[chimbu warrior]

Pretty sure they were operating under CFR Part 125, so, no age 65 restriction.

But as an international commercial operation this would be disallowed under Annex 1.

[ironbutt57]

But as an international commercial operation this would be disallowed under Annex 1.


rest assured they weren't doing anything illegal, this is good operator, just old airplanes a bit, but well thought of in aviation circles...

[Capt Fathom]

Early days yet but brings up memories of the loss of the Convair at Wonderboom South Africa in July last year. :(

[roundsounds]

Convair Accidents (https://aviation-safety.net/database/types/Convair-CV-340/database)

This will be the 4th accident in the last 15 years involving a Convair being unable to maintain altitude following an engine failure shortly after takeoff.

[Hotel Tango]

Except that, from my information, it wasn't exactly shortly after take-off.

[DaveReidUK]

Except that, from my information, it wasn't exactly shortly after take-off.

Looking at the FR24 replay, there might well have been problems from soon after takeoff.

The Convairs normally fly the NAS-OPF leg at 8000', but the flight in question didn't get higher than around 4500' at any point.

[Hotel Tango]

I stand corrected. Perhaps trying to get it back to base (and their maintenance facilities) rather than return to Nassau. Pure speculation mind!

[Airbubba]

From Patch.com:

Company CEO Marc Wolff told Patch that the missing crew member is 68-year-old Robert Hopkins, who has been with the company only a short time but is an experienced pilot."Excellent pilot. He has flown with the major airlines," Wolff told Patch. "He has been with us probably four months, five months right around there. Solid guy, solid pilot."




Wolff said first officer Rolland Silva was rescued by the Coast Guard and is in stable condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

From the FAA database for the captain:

Certificates DescriptionCertificate: AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT
Date of Issue: 7/26/2017

Ratings:
AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT
AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE LAND
COMMERCIAL PRIVILEGES
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND

Type Ratings: A/B-727 A/B-737 A/CV-240 A/CV-340 A/CV-440 A/LR-JET

Limits:
ENGLISH PROFICIENT.
B-727 B-737 CIRC. APCH. - VMC ONLY.



For the first officer:

Certificates DescriptionCertificate: COMMERCIAL PILOT
Date of Issue: 6/20/2018

Ratings:
COMMERCIAL PILOT
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE LAND
INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE

Type Ratings: C/CV-240 C/CV-340 C/CV-440

Limits:
ENGLISH PROFICIENT.
CV-240 CV-340 CV-440 SIC PRIVILEGES ONLY.







Both pilots hold first class medicals.

[ironbutt57]

lost power on both engines apparently....

[Raffles S.A.]

Tragic. If they lost power on both engines, it's very unfortunate that the ditching claimed a life, but ditching in the sea if it is not flat can be the same as trying to do a forced lob onto very uneven ground. R.I.P.

[Airbubba]

Narrative of the NTSB Preliminary Report:

Location: AO Accident Number: ERA19LA096 Date & Time: 02/08/2019, 1216 EST Registration: N145GT

Aircraft: Convair C131 Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled

On February 8, 2019, at 1216 eastern standard time, a General Dynamics Convair 131B, N145GT, was destroyed when it ditched in the Atlantic Ocean about 32 miles east of the MiamiOpa Locka Executive Airport (OPF), Miami, Florida. The captain was fatally injured, and the first officer was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Conquest Air Inc, Miami Lakes, Florida, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas, at 1113.

The flight originated earlier that day from OPF. The first officer stated that the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, and engine run-up were normal, and they departed with about 900 gallons of fuel onboard. The flight to Nassau was normal until he had to adjust the left engine propeller control to adjust speed for cruise flight. When the first officer manipulated the control, there was no movement on the gauge and the power was stuck at 2,400 RPM. He tried to re-set the propeller control circuit breaker, but to no avail. The captain equalized power on both engines and the flight was uneventful to Nassau. Once on the ground, the captain asked the first officer to send a text message to maintenance control, but the message never transmitted. The captain told the first officer not worry about it and if they were unable to reset the propeller control on the ground during the engine run-up then they would shut down and call maintenance.

The first officer said that before they began the accident flight, the engines started normally and both propellers were cycled. The left propeller control had re-set itself and they departed for OPF. The first officer said he was flying the airplane, and everything was normal until climbing through 4,000 ft when the left engine propeller control stopped working and the power was stuck at 2,400 RPM. The captain tried to adjust the control and bumped the power up to 2,700 RPM. The captain took control of the airplane and tried to stabilize the power on both engines. He leveled off at 4,500 ft, cancelled their instrument flight rules flight plan, and flew via visual flight rules direct to OPF.

The flight was normal until they began their descent down to 1,500 ft. The first officer could not remember the altitude, but the right engine suddenly backfired and began to surge. They used the checklist to feather the propeller and shut down the engine. The co-pilot said that
shortly after, between 10 seconds and two minutes, the left engine backfired and began to surge. As the captain flew the airplane, the co-pilot attempted to handle the emergency. Once he realized they were too low and were going to ditch, he asked the captain what he wanted to do. The captain told him to declare a May Day and brace for impact. The first officer said the impact with the water was violent and the tail had separated from the empennage. The fuselage was filling up rapidly with water. He unbuckled his seat belt/shoulder harness, grabbed the life raft and exited the airplane.

The captain held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The operator reported he had a total of 23,000 flight hours, of which, 725 hours were in the accident airplane. The captain's last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate was issued on January 22, 2019. He also had type ratings for B-727, B737, CV240, CV340, CV440, and LR-Jet.

The first officer held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The operator reported he had a total of 650 flight hours, of which, 305 hours were in the accident airplane. The first officer's last FAA first-class medical was issued on August 25, 2018. He held type ratings in the CV240, CV340, and CV440 (second-in-command only).

Weather at OPF at 1253 was reported as wind from 040° at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 3,600 ft, broken clouds at 5,000 ft, temperature 26°C, dewpoint 17°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.21 inches of mercury.


https://t.co/4AlEsPJGyZ

[Airbubba]

NTSB Final Report:

National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report

Location: Atlantic Ocean, AO Accident Number: ERA19LA096 Date & Time: 02/08/2019, 1216 EST Registration: N145GT Aircraft: Convair C131 Aircraft Damage: Destroyed Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial) Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled

Analysis

According to the first officer, during the first cargo flight of the day, the left engine propeller control was not working properly and the captain indicated that they would shut down the airplane and contact maintenance if the left engine propeller control could not be reset before the return flight. For the return flight, the engines started normally, and both propellers were cycled. The captain and the first officer were able to reset the left propeller control, so the airplane departed with the first officer as the pilot flying.

The takeoff and initial climb were normal; however, as the airplane climbed through 4,000 ft, the left engine propeller control stopped working and the power was stuck at 2,400 rpm. The captain tried to adjust the propeller control and inadvertently increased power to 2,700 rpm. The captain then took control of the airplane and tried to stabilize the power on both engines. He leveled the airplane at 4,500 ft, canceled the instrument flight rules flight plan, and flew via visual flight rules direct toward the destination airport. The first officer suggested that they return to the departure airport, but the captain elected to continue as planned (The destination airport was located about 160 nautical miles from the departure airport). The first officer's postaccident statements indicated that he did not challenge the captain's decision.

When the flight began the descent to 1,500 ft, the right engine began to surge and lose power. The captain and the first officer performed the engine failure checklist, and the captain feathered the propeller and shut down the engine. Shortly afterward, the left engine began to surge and lose power. The captain told the first officer to declare an emergency.

The airplane continued to descend, and the airplane impacted the water "violently," about 32 miles east of the destination airport. The captain was unresponsive after the impact and the first officer was unable to lift the captain from his seat. Because the cockpit was filling rapidly with water, the first officer grabbed the life raft and exited the airplane from where the tail section had separated from the empennage.

The first officer did not know what caused both engines to lose power. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean, so examination and testing to determine the cause of the engine failures could not be performed. According to the operator, the flight crew should have landed as soon as practical after the first sign of a mechanical issue. Thus, the crew should have diverted to the closest airport when the left engine propeller control stopped working and not continued the flight toward the destination airport.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The captain's decision to continue with the flight with a malfunctioning left engine propeller control and the subsequent loss of engine power on both engines for undetermined reasons, which resulted in ditching into the ocean. Contributing to the accident was the first officer's failure to challenge the captain's decision to continue with the flight.

Findings Aircraft Propeller governor - Failure (Cause) Engine (turbine/turboprop) - Failure (Cause) Personnel issues Decision making/judgment - Pilot (Cause) Lack of action - Copilot (Factor) Not determined Not determined - Unknown/Not determined (Cause)

Factual Information

On February 8, 2019, at 1216 eastern standard time, a General Dynamics Convair 340 (C131B), N145GT, was destroyed during a ditching in the Atlantic Ocean about 32 miles east of Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF), Miami, Florida. The captain was fatally injured, and the first officer was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Conquest Air, Inc., as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight departed Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas, at 1113.

The accident occurred during a return trip to OPF. The first officer stated that, for the first flight of the day (from OPF to MYNN), the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, and engine run-up were normal and that about 900 gallons of fuel was on board. The flight to MYNN was normal until the first officer, who was the pilot monitoring, attempted to adjust the left engine propeller control for the speed for cruise flight, yet there was no movement on the gauge, and the power was stuck at 2,400 rpm. The first officer tried to reset the propeller control circuit breaker but was unable to do so. The captain stabilized power on both engines, and the remainder of the flight to MYNN was uneventful. After the airplane landed, the captain asked the first officer to send a text message to maintenance control, but the message did not transmit. The captain told the first officer not to worry and indicated that, if they were unable to reset the propeller control on the ground during the engine run-up, then they would shut down the airplane and call maintenance.

The first officer stated that, before the accident flight began, the engines started normally, and both propellers were cycled. The captain and the first officer were able to reset the left propeller control, so the airplane departed for OPF. The first officer was the pilot flying, and he stated that the airplane was operating normally during the takeoff and initial climb; however, as the airplane climbed through 4,000 ft, the left engine propeller control stopped working, and the power was again stuck at 2,400 rpm. The captain tried to adjust the propeller control and inadvertently increased power to 2,700 rpm. The captain then took control of the airplane and stabilized the power on both engines. He leveled the airplane at 4,500 ft, canceled the IFR flight plan, and flew via visual flight rules direct to OPF. The first officer suggested that they return to MYNN, but the captain wanted to continue to OPF (OPF was located about 160 nautical miles west-northwest of MYNN). The first officer indicated that he did not want to disagree with the captain's decision given the captain's "extensive" experience.

The flight proceeded normally until the beginning of the descent (the first officer did not remember the altitude) to 1,500 ft, when the right engine began to surge and lose power. The first officer stated that the captain turned on both boost pumps and tried to stabilize the right engine with the mixture and throttle but that the engine began to backfire and shake "violently" with variations in the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP), fuel pressure, fuel flow indications, rpm, and manifold pressure. At that point, the flight crew performed the engine failure emergency checklist. As part of the checklist, the right engine was feathered, and the mixture was brought to the cutoff position. The first officer reported that, shortly afterward, the left engine also began to surge and shake "violently" with the same variations experienced after the right engine began to surge. At that point, the captain tried to control the left engine, and the first officer declared an emergency.

The first officer stated that, as the captain maneuvered the airplane to ditch, the airplane impacted the water "violently." During the impact, the first officer struck his head hard on the instrument panel. The first officer unbuckled his harness and saw the captain slumped over in his seat and unresponsive. He tried to lift the captain from his seat but was not able to do so. The first officer realized that he needed to get out of the airplane when the water inside the cockpit was chest high. The first officer stated that he kicked open the cockpit door and saw that the tail had separated from the empennage. He grabbed the life raft and exited from the tail of the airplane. He was rescued by a US Coast Guard helicopter.

The first officer stated that he did not know what caused the engines to lose power. According to the operator, "at the first sign of a mechanical malfunction the crew should have landed as soon as practicable."

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The captain held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine land and instrument airplane. He held type ratings for the Boeing 727 and 737; the Convair 240, 340, and 440; and LR-JET. The operator reported that the captain had 23,000 hours total flight experience, of which 725 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The captain also held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate dated January 22, 2019.

The first officer held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine land and instrument airplane. He held type ratings in the Convair 240, 340, and 440 (second-in-command privileges only). The operator reported that the first officer had 650 hours total flight experience, of which 305 hours were in the accident airplane. The first officer also held an FAA first-class medical dated August 25, 2018.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney R-2800CB3 radial engines and two Hamilton Sunstrand 43E60-377 propellers that were being maintained under an approved aircraft inspection program. The airplane's last inspection was on the day before the accident. At that time, the left engine had accrued 1,943 hours, the right engine had accrued about 417 hours, and the airframe had accrued about 12,701 hours.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The left wing washed ashore. The rest of the airplane was not recovered from the ocean. Thus, the engines could not be examined and tested to determine the cause of the failures.

History of Flight Enroute-cruise Loss of engine power (partial) (Defining event) Engine shutdown Emergency descent Loss of engine power (partial) Landing-flare/touchdown Ditching

Pilot Information Certificate: Commercial Age: 68, Male Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land Seat Occupied: Left Other Aircraft Rating(s): None Restraint Used: Instrument Rating(s): Airplane Second Pilot Present: Yes Instructor Rating(s): None Toxicology Performed: No Medical Certification: Class 1 None Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/22/2019 Occupational Pilot: Yes Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/09/2018 Flight Time: 23000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 725 hours (Total, this make and model), 21000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Co-Pilot Information Certificate: Commercial Age: 28, Male Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land Seat Occupied: Right Other Aircraft Rating(s): None Restraint Used: Instrument Rating(s): Airplane Second Pilot Present: Yes Instructor Rating(s): None Toxicology Performed: No Medical Certification: Class 1 Waiver Time Limited Special Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/25/2018 Occupational Pilot: Yes Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/16/2018 Flight Time: 650 hours (Total, all aircraft), 305 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information Aircraft Make: Convair Registration: N145GT Model/Series: C131 B Aircraft Category: Airplane Year of Manufacture: 1955 Amateur Built: No Airworthiness Certificate: Transport Serial Number: 256 Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle Seats: 3 Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/07/2019, AAIP Certified Max Gross Wt.: 47000 lbs Time Since Last Inspection: Engines: 2 Reciprocating Airframe Total Time: 12701.2 Hours at time of accident Engine Manufacturer: P&W ELT: Installed, not activated Engine Model/Series: R2800CB3 Registered

Owner: Conquest Air Inc Rated Power: 2400 hp Operator: Conquest Air Inc Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Condition of Light: Day Observation Facility, Elevation: OPF, 6 ft msl Distance from Accident Site: 32 Nautical Miles Observation Time: 1253 EST Direction from Accident Site: 90° Lowest Cloud Condition: Visibility 10 Miles Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3600 ft agl Visibility (RVR): Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots / Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None Wind Direction: 40° Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A Altimeter Setting: 30.21 inches Hg Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 17°C Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation Departure Point: Nassau, AO (NAS) Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR Destination: Miami, FL (OPF) Type of Clearance: IFR; VFR Flight Following Departure Time: 1113 EST Type of Airspace: Unknown
Wreckage and Impact Information Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious Aircraft Damage: Destroyed Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: None Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: None Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious Latitude, Longitude: 25.000000, -79.000000 (est)

Administrative Information Investigator In Charge (IIC): Leah D Read Report Date: 04/08/2020 Additional Participating Persons: Carlos Enriquez; FAA/FSDO; Mirimar, FL Publish Date: 04/08/2020 Note: The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident. Investigation Docket: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/search/dockList.cfm?mKey=98965


https://t.co/pC9yer3Lbj?amp=1