Investigation Summary
The investigation into Flight 2230 was severely hampered by the total disintegration of the aircraft upon impact at 440 km/h. Investigators determined that an engine fire occurred during the initial climb phase. Critically, the propeller of the affected engine failed to feather, a procedure designed to align the blades with the airflow to minimize drag. With the aircraft at its maximum takeoff weight, the drag from the unfeathered propeller created significant control difficulties. At an altitude of approximately 140 to 150 meters, the crew lost control of the aircraft. The Ilyushin Il-18 entered a steep right bank that progressed until the aircraft was flying upside down (inverted). It struck the ground in this inverted position just 2.9 kilometers from the airport. While the primary cause was the mechanical failure of the engine and feathering system, the resulting electrical failure of cockpit instruments further prevented the crew from maintaining situational awareness during the emergency.
Final Conclusions
The accident was caused by an uncontained engine fire and the subsequent failure of the propeller feathering mechanism. This created excessive drag that exceeded the aircraft's climb performance and controllability at maximum takeoff weight. The situation was exacerbated by a failure of cockpit instrumentation, likely due to electrical damage from the fire, which led to the crew losing control and the aircraft impacting the ground in a steep bank.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Propeller Feathering System
The mechanism failed to align the propeller blades with the wind, causing high drag after the engine fire.
Cockpit Instrumentation
An electrical failure following the engine fire caused the loss of critical flight data to the pilots.
Interesting Facts
- 01At the time of the crash, it was the deadliest aviation accident in the Russian SFSR.
- 02The aircraft was carrying 99 passengers, including twelve children, and 8 crew members.
- 03The impact speed was approximately 440 km/h (240 knots).
- 04The aircraft had accumulated 5,326 flight hours and 2,111 cycles since its manufacture in 1964.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Feathering System Reliability
The investigation highlighted the critical nature of the Il-18 feathering system, leading to increased scrutiny of engine fire procedures and the reliability of the automatic feathering mechanisms.