Florida Air Cargo Beach 18 Goes Down Off The Coast Of Bimini
Florida Air Cargo Beach 18 Goes Down Off The Coast
Of Bimini
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On February 2, 2000 a Florida Air Cargo Beach 18 cashed
in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 47 miles east of Bimini, Bahamas.
The weather was reported to be VFR, the flight was under Part 135 cargo
flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated
pilot was not injured, one passenger sustained minor injuries.
The flight originated about 1305 from the Opa-Locka Airport, Opa-Locka,
Florida. The pilot stated that the flight departed with all five fuel tanks
full of fuel and departed with the left fuel selector positioned to the
"main tank" position. The flight continued and approximately 10 minutes
after takeoff, he switched the left fuel selector to the auxiliary position
and remained on that tank for approximately 35 minutes. |
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The craft appears
largely intact in shallow water near Bimini.
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When the flight was approximately 20 miles east of Bimini, he switched
the left fuel selector to the main tank position where it remained for
5 minutes before he added climb power. While about 45 miles east of Bimini,
climbing through 2,300 feet with a good rate of climb, the left manifold
pressure dropped to 27 inches and the propeller rpm dropped to 1,300. He
turned to fly to Bimini, broadcast a mayday call, and reported no unusual
vibration; the fuel pressure and oil pressure gauges indicated normal.
He repositioned the fuel selector but the left engine would not restart.
He then feathered the left propeller and secured the engine but was unable
to maintain altitude with full power applied to the right engine.
The airplane was ditched in a slight left wing low attitude and the
left engine separated from the airframe. Both occupants exited the airplane,
remained in the water for 47 minutes, then were spotted by a U.S. Coast
Guard Falcon airplane. They were rescued by a pleasure boat and transported
to the east coast of Florida. The investigation is under the jurisdiction
of the government of the Bahamas.
Forida Air Cargo has had problems in the past. On February 17, 1999,
about 0945 eastern standard time, a Douglas DC-3C, N15MA, registered to
Florida Air Cargo, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight,
crashed into a fence on landing at Nassau International Airport, New Providence
Island, Bahamas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR
flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the
ATP-rated pilot and copilot were not injured. The flight departed Opa Locka
Airport about 0815.
The CEO of the cargo carrier stated that the pilot reported to him that
the landing was a hard touchdown that caused a bounce and a slightly left
swerve. The pilot over corrected the swerve with power, and a right excursion
off the runway ensued. The airplane collided with the airport's perimeter
fence.
On December 22, 1995, about 1020 eastern standard time, N123DZ, a Douglas
DC-3, operated by Florida Air Cargo Inc., struck a sign on landing roll
at Nassau, Bahamas, while on a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand, international,
cargo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and
a DVFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and
the two airline transport-rated crewmembers were not injured. The flight
originated from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, about 50 minutes earlier. The
crew stated that at the end of the landing roll the left horizontal stabilizer
struck a runway sign.
