AVIATION/ INDONESIA REPORTS ON MERPATI FL836

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) has released its Final Report into an incident involving a MERPATI NUSANTARA DHC-6-300 Twin Otter on July 18, 2010. On that date, Flight 836 was on Domestic Service from Bintuni to Sorong, Indonesia, with 6 passengers and 2 crew members onboard. The crew rejected takeoff from Bintuni when the left hand main gear tire reportedly burst. As the Otter slowed down, it veered right and came to a stop with the nose gear collapsed and the right hand main gear off the paved surface of the runway. No one onboard was injured, however the aircraft, registration PK-NUH, suffered substantial damages. In their Final Report, the NTSC said the cause of the incident was not started by a tire bursting, but problems with the engine. The Probable Cause was reported to be an engine torque indicator that dropped to zero, which was caused by a melting fuse. The NTSC said the aircraft then veered off to the right after right main wheel tire flattened, as result of heavy braking. The proficiency of the Pilots was also noted as a causative factor. The full Report, which details events as they unfolded, is due to be posted soon on the NTSC website.