Narrative:A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan passenger plane sustained substantial damage in an accident near Anse-Bertrand, Guadeloupe. There were no significant injuries.
Flight FWI706 departed Pointe-à -Pitre (PTP) on a flight to Saint-Barthélémy (SBH). The airplane took off at 15:06. Eleven minutes later, while climbing through an altitude of 7000 feet, the pilot heard an explosion-like noise followed by a sharp drop in engine power. He shut down the engine and feathered the propeller.
The airplane was over sea, at about 13 NM (24 km) from the nearest coast. The pilot turned around and attempted to restart the engine. After failing to get the engine running, he prepared for an emergency landing. After gliding for eight minutes, the airplane passed the coast line. At about 950 feet, the pilot chose a sugar cane field for landing.
At 19:26 the plane hit the ground and skidded about 35 m before coming to rest.
Probable Cause:
CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT:
The accident was due to the failure of one or more CT blades through creep that led to the in-flight shutdown of the engine.
The causes of the creep could not be determined. It could have been caused by exceeding the engineÂ’s threshold temperature during operations or by non-detection during a maintenance operation.
Accident investigation:

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Investigating agency: | BEA France |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 2 years and 8 months | Accident number: | f-xz100905 | Download report: | Final report
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Classification:
All engine powerloss
Forced landing outside airport
Follow-up / safety actions
BEA issued 3 Safety Recommendations
Issued: 01-MAY-2013 | To: EASA; Transport Canada | FRAN-2013-10 |
EASA and Transport Canada mandate the installation of new monocrystalline blades on PT6A-114/114A engines |
Issued: 01-MAY-2013 | To: EASA; Transport Canada | FRAN-2013-11 |
EASA and Transport Canada ensure that the inspection program for vanes of older generation is improved on PT6A-114/114A engines pending replacement. |
Issued: 01-MAY-2013 | To: EASA | FRAN-2013-12 |
EASA extend the obligation to carry a flight data recorder on board any aircraft in commercial air transport. |
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Photos
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 Pointe-à -Pitre-Le Raizet Airport to Saint-Barthélémy Airport as the crow flies is 228 km (143 miles).
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.