Investigation Summary
Divi Divi Air Flight 014 was a short commuter hop between the islands of Curaçao and Bonaire. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, as the pilot transitioned from climb to cruise power, the right-hand Lycoming engine failed. The pilot feathered the propeller and attempted several restarts without success. Despite the failure, the pilot elected to continue to Bonaire rather than returning to the departure airport, which was closer at the time of the emergency. The aircraft, carrying nine passengers and significant cargo, was significantly overweight. The investigation by the Dutch Safety Board revealed that the airline routinely used an unrealistic standard passenger weight of 160 lbs, which masked the fact that the aircraft was frequently operated above its 6,600 lb limit. On the accident flight, the 9 percent overload resulted in a steady descent rate of 140 to 200 feet per minute that the remaining engine could not arrest. As the aircraft approached Klein Bonaire, the pilot attempted to signal the passengers to prepare for ditching using hand signals and a thumbs-up. However, the investigation noted that due to high cabin noise and the lack of a public address system, communication was extremely difficult; many passengers were unaware of the pilot's specific intentions or the impending ditching until moments before impact. The aircraft impacted the water with its flaps up, resulting in a higher-than-normal landing speed. The pilot's head struck the cockpit frame or instrument panel during the impact, causing him to lose consciousness. Passengers attempted to free him, but the aircraft sank rapidly, taking the pilot with it.
Final Conclusions
The Dutch Safety Board concluded that the primary cause was the pilot's decision to continue the flight to Bonaire while the aircraft was overloaded, which made an emergency landing at sea unavoidable. The investigation highlighted systemic issues at Divi Divi Air, including a lack of internal supervision regarding load and balance programs and the use of incorrect passenger weights. Furthermore, the Directorate of Civil Aviation Netherlands Antilles was cited for insufficient oversight of the airline's operational management and weight restrictions.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Identified as Robert Mansell.
Systems & Failure Modes
Lycoming O-540-E4C5 Engines
The aircraft was powered by two piston engines; the starboard engine failed during cruise, and the remaining engine lacked the performance to maintain level flight due to the aircraft's weight.
Load and Balance Program
The airline used a standard average passenger weight of 160 lbs, which was significantly lower than the actual average, leading to chronic overloading of the Islander fleet.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was overloaded by 9 percent (approximately 600 lbs) over its maximum structural take-off weight.
- 02The pilot, Robert Mansell, was the sole fatality; he was knocked unconscious during the ditching and went down with the aircraft.
- 03The investigation found that 32 percent of investigated Divi Divi Air flights were recorded at exactly the maximum weight, suggesting falsified load sheets.
- 04The aircraft hit the water with its flaps retracted, increasing the impact speed.
- 05Safety instruction cards on board did not match the actual life jackets provided, and communication was hindered by high cabin noise.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Revised Passenger Weights
Following the accident, the standard average passenger weight for Antillean airlines operating the Britten-Norman Islander was increased to 176 lbs to reduce the risk of overloading.
Enhanced Oversight
The Dutch Safety Board recommended that the Curaçao Civil Aviation Authority improve oversight of operational management and internal supervision systems for load and balance programs.