Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Halfmoon Bay (Stewart Island)

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Halfmoon Bay - Invercargill

MSN:

402C-0512

YOM:

1981

Location:

Southland Regional Council

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14564

Captain / Total hours on type:

27.00

Aircraft flight hours:

13472

Circumstances:

Surviving passengers reported that en route from Stewart Island to Invercargill there were symptoms of a righthand engine failure, which was corrected by the pilot's manipulation of floor-mounted fuel tank selectors. Shortly afterwards, both engines stopped. The pilot broadcast a Mayday and advised the passengers that they would be ditching. A successful ditching was carried out approximately 12 NM south of Invercargill. All occupants escaped from the aircraft, however, four persons exited without life jackets. The pilot entered the cabin but was unable to locate more before the aircraft sank. Rescuers reached the scene about an hour after the ditching only to find that all those without life jackets had perished, as had a young boy who was wearing one.

Probable cause:

A TAIC investigation found that there was no evidence of any component malfunction that could cause a double engine failure, although due to seawater damage the pre-impact condition of most fuel quantity system components could not be verified. Both fuel tank selectors were positioned to the lefthand tank, and it is probable that fuel starvation was the cause of the double engine failure. Company procedures for the Cessna 402 lacked a fuel quantity monitoring system to supplement fuel gauge indications. Dipping of the tanks was not a feasible option. Company pilots believed that the aircraft was fitted with low-fuel quantity warning lights, which was not the case. As three pilots believed the gauges indicated sufficient fuel was on board before the preceding round trip to the island, exhaustion may have followed an undetermined fuel indicating system malfunction. The failure of the company to require the use of operational flight logs, and other deficiencies in record keeping, were identified in the TAIC report. The much-publicised misunderstanding about the ditching location was not considered by the TAIC report to have affected the outcome of the rescue, but provides an example of the continued importance of using the phonetic alphabet in radiotelephony. A safety recommendation that operators use a fuel-quantity monitoring system to supplement fuel gauge indications was also made by the TAIC report.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Antofagasta

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1998

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

935

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Schedule:

Antofagasta - Antofagasta

MSN:

YOM:

1966

Location:

Antofagasta

Región de Antofagasta

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Antofagasta-Cerro Moreno Airport (Andrés Sabella Gálvez Intl Airport). At liftoff, the pilot-in-command initiated a sharp turn to the right, causing the left wing tip to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed by the runway. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the pilot-in-command was a Mirage fighter jet captain. When ATC requested the crew to expedite the takeoff, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn at low height, apparently not aware about the aircraft wingspan.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Columbus

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1998 at 0450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Rhodes Aviation

Registration:

N5MJ

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Columbus-Municipal (Bakalar)

Schedule:

Columbus - Detroit

MSN:

421B-0925

YOM:

1975

Location:

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2145

Captain / Total hours on type:

594.00

Aircraft flight hours:

6925

Circumstances:

Upon reaching an altitude of 400 agl after takeoff, the left side door on the nose baggage door opened. The pilot-in- command initiated a left turn to return to the airport. During the turn the stall horn sounded. The airplane then descended and impacted the terrain. Investigation revealed that both pilots did a portion of the aircraft preflight inspection. Both pilots were qualified to act as PIC for the flight and this flight would typically have been a single pilot operation. However, the company who hired the operator to transport their employees requested two pilots. The operator did not have any written procedures regarding the division of duties for a two pilot operation on this type of aircraft.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-commands failure to maintain airspeed and the subsequent stall/mush. Factors associated with the accident were the open baggage door and the inadequate aircraft preflight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Chicago: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1998 at 2200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

Kenneth E. Asher

Registration:

N5340F

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Chicago - Louisville

MSN:

340A-0667

YOM:

1978

Location:

Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1600

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3036

Circumstances:

The pilot reported the airplane decelerated during the takeoff roll. He applied the brakes and as he advanced the throttles to full power the airplane accelerated. The airplane cleared the end of the runway then stalled into Lake Michigan, flipped inverted and sank. One passenger reported that it felt as if someone put on the brakes. One passenger drowned. The pilot used 32' of manifold pressure for takeoff versus 37.3' as placarded. The pilot operating handbook lists normal takeoff speed as 91 KIAS, however the airplane was equipped with vortex generators. The pilot reported looking for 105 to 110 KIAS for takeoff. No evidence was found of the pilot having a multi-engine rating. No evidence of a mechanical failure/malfunction was found.

Probable cause:

The pilot's improper use of the throttle in not using full power for takeoff, the pilot's failure to use proper aborted takeoff procedures, and the inadvertent stall/mush. A factor associated with the accident was inadequate preflight/planning by the pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 in Cochin: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1998 at 1105 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO228

Operator:

Registration:

VT-EJW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Agathi – Cochin – Thiruvananthapuram

MSN:

8075

YOM:

1986

Flight number:

LRR503

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5366

Captain / Total hours on type:

2271.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a flight from Agathi to Thiruvananthapuram with an intermediate stop in Cochin, carrying three passengers and three crew members. After takeoff from runway 17, at a height of about 400 feet, the aircraft pitched up steeply to a near vertical attitude and thereafter appeared to perform a manoeuvre similar to a stall turn to the right and crashed on the roof of the Component Repair Shop (CRS) building of the Naval Aircraft Yard. After impact the aircraft caught fire and was totally destroyed. All six occupants were killed as well as three people in the building. Six others received minor injuries.

Probable cause:

After take off the aircraft pitched up uncontrollably, stalled fell to its right and crashed. The uncontrollable pitch up was caused by sudden uncommanded downward movement of the Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer leading edge. This was due to partial detachment of its 'actuator forward bearing support' fitting due non installation of required hi-lok fasteners. Poor aircraft maintenance practices at Short Haul Operations Department contributed to the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I in Rawlins

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1998 at 2208 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 500 Citation

Operator:

Registration:

C-FSKC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Winnipeg – Rawlins – Santa Ana

MSN:

500-0018

YOM:

1972

Location:

Rawlins

Wyoming

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5750

Captain / Total hours on type:

1000.00

Aircraft flight hours:

11163

Circumstances:

The captain said the airplane felt 'sluggish' during the takeoff roll. At V1/Vr, the airplane was rotated for liftoff. It climbed 10 feet, 'shuddered,' and sank. The captain elected to abort the takeoff. He landed the airplane on the runway, applied brakes and deployed the drag chute. The drag chute separated and the airplane went off the runway, down a hill, through a fence, across a road and grassy area, across another road, through a chain link fence, and collided with a power pole. The captain said they had calculated the takeoff performance using inappropriate tables, and failed to consider the wet runway and wind shift. The drag chute riser fractured at a point where it passed through a lightning hole. The lightning hole bore no evidence of a nylon grommet having been installed.

Probable cause:

The captain's use of improper airplane performance data, resulting in inadequate takeoff capability. Factors were his decision to abort the takeoff above V1, the separation of the drag chute, a wet runway, a tailwind, and collision with objects that included two fences and a power pole.

Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 at Pushkin AFB

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1998 at 0225 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Norilsk Avia

Registration:

RA-11886

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pushkin AFB – Ukhta – Norilsk

MSN:

2 3 403 02

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After 33,5 seconds during the takeoff roll, after a distance of 975 metres and at a speed of 210 km/h, the engine n°4 failed and its propeller automatically feathered. For unknown reasons, the crew failed to identify this failure and the pilot-in-command started the rotation (elevator -26°) at an insufficient speed of 238 km/h instead of the recommended 250 km/h. After liftoff, the aircraft started to roll to the right, causing the right wing to struck the ground two seconds after rotation. The went out of control, lost its undercarriage, slid for about 300 metres and came to rest, bursting into flames. All nine occupants escaped with various injuries and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Failure of the engine n°4 due to an incorrect setting of the propeller speed control system.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Kendall: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1998 at 1431 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Jon Speisman

Registration:

N7578L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Miami-Executive (Kendall-Tamiami)

Schedule:

Kendall - Kendall

MSN:

31-7401201

YOM:

1974

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6700

Circumstances:

An aircraft mechanic working abeam of the point on the runway that the airplane lifted off was attracted by the sound of engine roughness, and observed black smoke trailing from the left engine. The airplane continued to climb to about 150 feet above ground level, entered a series of shallow left turns at about the airport's east boundary at a slow speed, and then entered a rapid left roll and pitched down. The pilot transmitted an unreadable call on FAA tower frequency, but the words, 'we got a..' and 'engine' were clearly discernable. The airplane crashed in dense brush about 1.25 miles northeast of the airport. Contamination was found in the left engine fuel system. Post crash testing of the left fuel servo revealed it would not sustain a steady state fuel flow above about one half throttle due to contamination.

Probable cause:

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which led to fuel contamination and subsequent loss of engine power. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain single engine flying speed (VMC).

Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD off Ra's al-Khaimah: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1998 at 2315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-76

Operator:

Registration:

UR-76424

Flight Phase: