Air Crash Investigation Report of Air Kasthamandap
September 19, 2016 – Kathmandu
The investigation commission of crash of Air Kasthamandap’s single engine aircraft that had a fatal incident on February 26 this year which claiming life of two crew members has forwarded their investigation report to the Nepal Government stating the engine failure as the main reason behind the crash.
The report states that the aircraft crash during an attempt of emergency landing by pilots after encountering engine failure during flight. The aircraft was a PAC 750 XSTOL series and registered as 9N-AJB with air Kasthamandap and the flight was outbound to Jumla from Nepalgunj with 9 passengers and 2 crew members on board.
The investigation committee was a four member team led by ex-treasurer Yagya Prasad Gautam under Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Aviation. The committee has finally submitted the report five months after its formation to Tourism Minister Jeeban Bahadur Shahi.
The Minister with the report has instructed the concerned and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to maintain the safety standard of Aviation to prevent the mishap like this further. The report of investigation illustrated that the single engine of the aircraft failed inflight above around Haudeko Lek and the pilots made several attempts to restart the engine which showed no sign of restarting. After this the pilots attempted to make a crash landing at a best possible plain location and started making approach gliding in air without an engine.
The approach was made but the front of aircraft unfortunately hit a terrain right ahead taking the lives of crew. The engine of the aircraft had ripped off and the pilots were pressed beneath it. Captain Dinesh Neupane with First officer Santosh Rana had died in the incident but rest of the nice passengers including an infant was safely evacuated with minor injuries.
Right after the crash, the government imposed a ban on single engine operation which was later in operation limited up to cargo operation.
The main reason of the engine failure was the problem with bearings. The engine needed an overhaul because of the bearing problem and handling damage according to the report. The engine was brought from TAE Aerospace, Queensland, Australia in lease. The engine had to be properly inspected while importing that was not considered by Air Kasthamandap according to the report.
