UTAir Cargo Antonov AN-74T-100 plane crash
Gao, Mali
Updated on
The Antonov AN-74 belonging to UTAir Cargo and operated on behalf and in colors of United Nations MINUSMA operations took off from Bamako, Mali, for a flight to Gao, Mali. 4 passengers and 7 crewmembers were onboard. The plane overran the runway after landing coming to a stop on soft ground with all gear collapsed and nose and belly substantially damaged. The captain has been seriously injured, 10 occupants received minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
The twin-jet plane was in cruise when the electrical generator of the right-hand engine failed. The crew tried to start the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit - a small turbine capable of providing electrical power to the plane), but this action resulted in the failure of the left-hand generator. Two attempts to start the APU were unsuccessful. The plane was therefore in complete electrical failure, and was only relying on batteries to provide a minimum amount of electrical power needed. The crew declared emergency. When the crew selected flaps and gear, neither flaps nor gear reacted. The gear was manually lowered. Therefore, the crew had to land with the flaps retraced, thus resulting in a higher landing speed and longer landing distance. After touchdown the thrust reversers did not operate, resulting in a significant decrease of braking efficiency. The plane landed on a wet runway (reducing even more the braking efficiency), and overran it at about 80 knots.
