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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 13, 1992 · Short Brothers SC7 · N20086

Bethel, AK

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 13, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Bethel, AK
Aircraft
Short Brothers SC7
Tail Number
N20086
Operator
Arctic Circle Air Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC92FA106

The airplane rolled 200-300 ft before becoming airborne in a very nose high attitude. It maintained this attitude, made a right, then a left bank, and fell to the ground in a nose high attitude. The cargo consisted of eight 55-gal drums of fuel, laid on their side and secured by one cargo strap running fore and aft and another cargo strap running diagonally across the barrels. The tie down ring ultimate strength rating was 1600 pounds. The weight of the cargo was 2863 pounds. Three of the cargo hooks associated with the cargo straps were found still attached to the tie down rings, and one hook and tie down ring were not located. Post-impact fire destroyed the cargo straps, and the barrels were strewn randomly through the cabin/cargo area. According to the manufacturer, the Davis tie down ring installation is not approved by the manufacturer. The modification should have been accomplished under a supplemental type certificate. The logbooks showed only an entry. The certificated max gross weight was calculated to have been exceeded by 324.8 lbs.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE SECURITY OF THE CARGO WHICH SHIFTED REARWARD DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OVER GROSS WEIGHT CONDITION, AND THE IMPROPER ALTERATION OF THE TIE DOWN RINGS BY THE OVERHAULING MAINTENANCE FACILITY.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE ROLLED 200-300 FT BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE IN A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. IT MAINTAINED THIS ATTITUDE, MADE A RIGHT, THEN A LEFT BANK, AND FELL TO THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE CARGO CONSISTED OF EIGHT 55-GAL DRUMS OF FUEL, LAID ON THEIR SIDE AND SECURED BY ONE CARGO STRAP RUNNING FORE AND AFT AND ANOTHER CARGO STRAP RUNNING DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE BARRELS. THE TIE DOWN RING ULTIMATE STRENGTH RATING WAS 1600 POUNDS. THE WEIGHT OF THE CARGO WAS 2863 POUNDS. THREE OF THE CARGO HOOKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARGO STRAPS WERE FOUND STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIE DOWN RINGS, AND ONE HOOK AND TIE DOWN RING WERE NOT LOCATED. POST-IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE CARGO STRAPS, AND THE BARRELS WERE STREWN RANDOMLY THROUGH THE CABIN/CARGO AREA. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE DAVIS TIE DOWN RING INSTALLATION IS NOT APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MODIFICATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED UNDER A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. THE LOGBOOKS SHOWED ONLY AN ENTRY. THE CERTIFICATED MAX GROSS WEIGHT WAS CALCULATED TO HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED BY 324.8 LBS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 AKDT
Nearest AirportBETHEL (0nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length6398 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftShort Brothers SC7
Tail NumberN20086
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorArctic Circle Air Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE331-2-201A · Turboprop · 715
Seats20

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind28° @ 11 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingOvercast 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 45 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:31
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data