N909GD

On October 6, 2013, about 0603 Atlantic standard time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8, N909GD, operated by Air Charter Inc., doing business as Air Flamenco, was substantially damaged when it impacted water about 7 miles southwest of the Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (TJCP), Culebra, Puerto Rico. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Antonio Rivera Rodriquez Airport (TJVQ), Vieques, Puerto Rico, about 0555. The on-demand air taxi cargo flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135.According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot originally departed from Culebra about 0500, and flew to Ceiba, Puerto Rico, to pick up a load of newspapers. He then flew to Vieques without incident, and was returning to Culebra at the time of the accident. After the airplane became overdue, a search was conducted by the operator and U.S. Coast Guard personnel. The pilot, small fragments of the fuselage, and the nose gear were subsequently recovered from the water near an area containing a fuel/oil slick.

According to radar data provided by the FAA, after takeoff from TJVQ, the airplane turned to the northeast toward TJCP, and flew over the water at an altitude of about 100 to 200 feet mean sea level, before climbing to an altitude of 2,400 feet. About 0559:49, the airplane made a 360 degree left turn, followed by a 360 right turn while maintaining an altitude of about 2,400 feet, before continuing on a northeast heading at 0601:09. At 0602:53, the airplane began a rapid descending left turn and radar contact was lost at 0603:07, at an altitude of 1,000 feet.

The wreckage was subsequently located on the sea floor, at a depth of about 85 feet, in the vicinity of the airplane's last radar target, about 12 miles northeast of TJVQ. The airplane came to rest upright, however both wings, the cabin, cockpit, and nose section were destroyed by impact forces. The empennage was intact and displayed impact damage to the outboard leading edge corner of the left horizontal stabilizer. Both engines were located with their respective propellers intact and attached. The wreckage was not recovered, which precluded its examination for preimpact malfunctions.

The airplane was manufactured in 1971 and powered by two Lycoming O-540-E4C5 engines, equipped Hartzell HC-C2YK-2CUF propeller assemblies. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated for about 22,600 hours. Review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane's most recent 100-hour inspection was performed on September 19, 2013, at a total time of about 22,575 hours. At that time, the left and right engines had been operated for about 1,450, and about 560 hours since overhaul; respectively, and the left and right propellers had been operated for about 1,465, and about 1,155 hours since overhaul; respectively.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane multiengine land, airplane single-engine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on January 23, 2013. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 1,200 hours, which included 500 hours during the previous 6 months.

According to company records, the pilot was hired during April 2012, as a Britten-Norman BN-2A pilot-in-command. Review of flight records by an FAA inspector revealed that at the time of the accident, the pilot had accumulated about 1,650 hours of total flight experience, which included about 1,100 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane, of which about 130 hours were accumulated during the 90 days that preceded the accident. While the majority of the pilot's flights were conducted during the day, the pilot regularly operated flights in night lighting conditions. His most recent flight review was conducted on April 10, 2013, in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Roosevelt Roads Naval Station (TJNR) was located about 15 miles west-southwest of the accident site, at an elevation of 36 feet. At 0555, the reported weather at TJNR included calm winds, a visibility of 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 25 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 24 degrees C, and an altimeter of 29.92 inches of mercury.

Astronomical data obtained from the United States Naval Observatory revealed the beginning of civil twilight was 0556, with Sunrise at 0616. At the time of the accident, the Sun was 3.5 degrees below the horizon at an azimuth of 94 degrees. Moonrise occurred at 0739 and was more than 15 degrees below the horizon, the phase of the Moon was a waxing crescent with 3 percent of the disk illuminated.

According to the pilot's autopsy, performed by the Instituto de Ciencias Forenses in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the pilot's cause of death was severe trauma to the body sustained in an accident. In addition, the pathologist noted an enlarged heart, an enlarged spleen, and a fatty liver.

Toxicology testing performed by the FAA's Bioaeronautical Research Laboratory identified 0.027 gm/dl of ethanol in the pilot's cavity blood, but did not detect any ethanol in muscle or brain tissue, and no tested for drugs were identified. Toxicology testing performed through the Instituto de Ciencias Forenses did not identify any ethanol or any other alcohols, and did not identify any tested for drugs.