Statuts:	Enquête Officielle
Date:	16 JUN 1996
Type/Sous-type:	de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
Compagnie:	Wildcountry Airways
Immatriculation:	C-FMEL
Numéro de série:	222
Année de Fabrication:	1957
Moteurs:	1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340
Equipage:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 1
Passagers:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 6
Total:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 7
Dégats de l'appareil:	Perte Totale
Conséquences:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Lieu de l'accident:	9 km (5.6 milles) E of Cochenour, ON (Canada)
Phase de vol:	Inconnu (UNK)
Nature:	Charter National
Aéroport de départ:	Cochenour, ON, Canada
Aéroport de destination:	Sandy Beach Lodge, ON, Canada

Détails:
The pilot had levelled the aircraft and configured it for cruise flight at approximately 2,500 feet above sea level when the pilot heard a popping sound and noted a slight loss of engine power, and wisps of whitish-grey smoke entered the cabin. The aircraft instruments indicated normal engine operation, and the fire warning system did not activate.The pilot suspected that the engine had suffered a cylinder failure and turned to return to Cochenour. A passenger seated in the right front crew
seat reported flames near the floor at the front, right corner of the cockpit. The pilot radioed the Thunder Bay Flight Service Station to advise of
the emergency, had the passenger vacate the crew seat, and attempted to suppress the fire with a hand-held extinguisher. Thick, black smoke billowed
into the cabin, restricting visibility and causing respiratory distress for all of the occupants. The pilot opened the left crew door in order to see
ahead and landed the aircraft, still on fire, on McNeely Bay, the first available landing site. The aircraft landed hard but remained upright on the
floats. The occupants left by the main door, with their life jackets, and were picked up almost immediately by nearby boats. The aircraft was consumed
by fire within minutes after landing.

CAUSES ET FACTEURS CONTRIBUTIFS: "La poursuite de l'utilisation du moteur après la rupture de la soupape d'échappement du cylindre no 2 a donné naissance à une veine de gaz enflammés à proximité du côté droit de la cloison pare-feu, à une surchauffe du système d'échappement et, finalement, à un incendie dans la cabine."

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