Kathmandu, Nepal, February 7, 2023: The investigation commission formed to investigate the crash of a Yeti Airlines ATR-72 aircraft in Pokhara on January 15 has found that there was no engine power during its final moments.
The panel reached on the conclusion after analyzing the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder retrieved from the crash site of Yeti Airlines 9N-ANC aircraft in Pokhara.
According to the commission members, the propellers of both the plane's engines were on feather during the base leg of the landing procedure. However, the panel has yet to reach on the conclusion about the exact reason of the fetal crash.
The flight data recorder and the cockpit flight recorder were analyzed by the representatives of Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore, BEA France, TSB Canada, P & W Canada, and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
According to the investigation commission statement, the technical and human perspectives were also analyzed through ATR simulators in Singapore.
The commission has said that further investigation in underway to find out why both the propellers were on feather.
‘In ATR-72 aircraft feather means to stay inclined to 90 degrees in spite of being in a certain degree as turned by the pilots, in order to increase the speed, the pilot has to incline the propeller blade using the liver that is in the cockpit. With the propeller blade standing at 90 degrees, the plane would lose aerodynamic movement,’ the commission has stated.
The aircraft that was flown to Pokhara from Kathmandu had crashed into the gorge between Pokhara's domestic and the new-inaugurated international airport just seconds before it was supposed to land.
Altogether 72 people including crew members, foreigners and infants traveled on the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft had died. Rescuers have recovered 71 bodies yet.
