ATL01LA074

While in cruise flight at 6,500 feet, the airplane's engine jolted and made a whining noise. The propeller stopped and feathered. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. An emergency was declared, and the airplane was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean 20 miles east of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The airplane was not recovered for post-crash examination.

On July 6, 2001, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N812MA, ditched into the Atlantic Ocean 20 miles east of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following the loss of engine power. The flight was operated by Maxfly Aviation, a Title 14 CFR Part 135 operator. The repositioning flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed and sank in 3,000 feet of water. The airline transport pilot and co-pilot were not injured. The personal flight departed Freeport, Bahamas, at 1830.

According to the pilot, once level at 6,500 feet, the cruise checklist was completed. Approximately 10 minutes later, the engine jolted and began making a very loud whining noise. The propeller came to a complete stop and feathered itself. The pilot stated the oil temperature and pressure appeared normal, but the inter-turbine temperature was increasing rapidly. The pilot shut down the engine, and the noise stopped. After several unsuccessful attempts to restore engine power, the pilot declared an emergency and ditched the airplane 20 miles east of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The airplane was not recovered from the water for post-crash examination. Prior to the flight from Freeport, the airplane had been refueled with 95 gallons of fuel at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The airplane had flown from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport, Bahamas, and was en route to Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when the accident occurred.