
Narrative:
The Caravan departed Fajardo (FAJ) on a flight to Culebra Island (CPX). Approximately 20 miles (32 km) from Fajardo, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in the waters near Flamenco Beach.
Isla Nena sued Cessna Aircraft Company, the aircraft’s manufacturer, and Pratt & Whitney, the aircraft engine’s manufacturer, seeking damages for loss of the aircraft, repair costs to the aircraft, lost income during the time the aircraft was out of service and other damages based on tort and strict liability theories for defective products manufacture. The district court dismissed Isla Nena’s tort and strict liability claims because the emergency landing caused damage only to the plane itself.
Ditching
| Status: | Preliminary |
| Date: | Saturday 30 August 2003 |
| Time: | 11:30 |
| Type: |  Cessna 208B Grand Caravan |
| Operator: | Isla Nena Air Services |
| Registration: | N786DM |
| MSN: | 208B0922 |
| First flight: | 2001 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1200 |
| Engines: | 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | near Culebra Airport (CPX) ( Puerto Rico)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Fajardo Airport (FAJ/TJFA), Puerto Rico |
| Culebra Airport (CPX/TJCP), Puerto Rico |
The Caravan departed Fajardo (FAJ) on a flight to Culebra Island (CPX). Approximately 20 miles (32 km) from Fajardo, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in the waters near Flamenco Beach.
Isla Nena sued Cessna Aircraft Company, the aircraft’s manufacturer, and Pratt & Whitney, the aircraft engine’s manufacturer, seeking damages for loss of the aircraft, repair costs to the aircraft, lost income during the time the aircraft was out of service and other damages based on tort and strict liability theories for defective products manufacture. The district court dismissed Isla Nena’s tort and strict liability claims because the emergency landing caused damage only to the plane itself.
Classification:
Ditching
Sources:
» Lawsuit Against Cessna Aircraft Dismissed for Failure to Allege Non-economic Damages (Isla Nena Air Services, Inc. v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 380 F. Supp. 2d 74 (D.P.R. 2005)) by Aubrey Posey, 3L, Stetson University College of LawPhotos
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 Fajardo Airport to Culebra Airport as the crow flies is 38 km (23 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Fajardo Airport to Culebra Airport as the crow flies is 38 km (23 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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.
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