ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N687MA Kalaupapa Airport, HI (LUP)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Wednesday 11 December 2013
Time:15:45
Type:Silhouette image of generic C208 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:Makani Kai Air
Registration: N687MA
MSN: 208B1002
First flight: 2002
Total airframe hrs:4881
Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 8
Total:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 9
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:ca 800 m N off Kalaupapa Airport, HI (LUP) (   United States of America)
Phase: Initial climb (ICL)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Kalaupapa Airport, HI (LUP/PHLU), United States of America
Destination airport:Honolulu International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL), United States of America
Narrative:
The Makani Kai Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan impacted ocean waters shortly after takeoff from Kalaupapa Airport (PHLU), on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, one passenger was fatally injured, and five passengers received minor injuries.
The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff from runway 05, at an altitude of about 400 feet above ground level (agl), he began a left turn for a downwind departure. Shortly after passing 500 feet agl, he motioned toward the power lever to reduce power for the climb when he heard a loud "bang" followed by an immediate loss of engine power. The pilot continued the turn toward land, verified the fuel valves were on, and observed all engine gauges displaying "zero." The pilot realized the airplane was not going to make it to land, and rolled the wings level while broadcasting a mayday distress call. Shortly after, the airplane landed within open ocean water in a flat or slightly nose up attitude.
All the passengers and the pilot exited the airplane through the rear right door, and the airplane remained on the water surface for approximately 25 minutes before it sank. One passenger swam to shore, and United States Coast Guard and Maui Fire and Rescue helicopters recovered the pilot and 7 passengers from the water about 80 minutes after the ditching.
The passenger who died before the first responders arrived was found wearing a partially inflated infant life vest. Another
passenger reported that he also inadvertently used an infant life vest, which he said seemed "small or tight" but "worked fine." If the pilot had provided a safety briefing, as required by regulations, to the passengers that included the ditching procedures and location and usage of floatation equipment, the passengers might have been able to find and use the correct size flotation device.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The loss of engine power due to the fracture of multiple blades on the compressor turbine wheel, which resulted in a ditching. The reason for the blade failures could not be determined due to secondary thermal damage to the blades."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 2 years and 5 months
Accident number: WPR14FA068
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Ditching

Sources:
» NTSB
» Maui Now
» Star Advertiser
» FAA


Photos

photo of Cessna-208B-Grand-Caravan-N687MA
accident date: 11-12-2013
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: N687MA
photo of Cessna-208B-Grand-Caravan-N687MA
accident date: 11-12-2013
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: N687MA
photo of Cessna-208B-Grand-Caravan-N687MA
accident date: 11-12-2013
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: N687MA
 

Video, social media

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Kalaupapa Airport, HI to Honolulu International Airport, HI as the crow flies is 99 km (62 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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