PIPER PA34

Full Narrative

On October 15, 2012, at 1402 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, Canadian registration C-GNAS, owned and operated by Nadeau Air Service, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada, following a catastrophic engine failure and subsequent fire. The two pilots on board were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The foreign, non-scheduled local training flight departed Trois-Rivieres, Canada, at an unreported time.

According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, an instructor and student were performing a missed approach segment of an RNAV approach at an altitude of 2,100 feet when the right engine suffered a catastrophic failure and caught fire. The co-pilot declared an emergency and reported their intention to land. Meanwhile, dense smoke spread inside the cabin. The airplane landed in a field two nautical miles east of Victoriaville Airport. The airplane struck the ground and came to rest inverted.

A postaccident examination of right engine showed the number two cylinder had separated in flight causing the fire. The number two cylinder hold down studs and through bolts showed signs of fatigue failure.

This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Canada. Any further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada at:

Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Engineering Facility Building U-100
1901 Research Road
Gloucester, Ontario, Canada
K1A 1K8
Telephone: 613-990-0940
Facsimile: 613-998-5572
E-mail: [email protected]