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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

September 7, 1992 · Beech C-45H · N3657G

Hinckley, IL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 7, 1992
Injury Outcomes
12 injuries (12 fatalities)
Location
Hinckley, IL
Aircraft
Beech C-45H
Tail Number
N3657G
Operator
Exa
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA92MA048

After takeoff, the airplane was seen at low altitude trailing smoke from the left engine. Witnesses saw the wings 'tipping' back and forth, then a wing dropped and hit the ground. Examination revealed that a supercharger bearing had failed in the left engine. The left engine had been recently installed by non-certificated personnel after being inactive for 18 years without preservation. The airplane had flown about 184 hours since the last annual inspection; there was no record of a subsequent 100-hour inspection. The left prop blades were found in an intermediate position between the operating range and the feathered position. The left prop was changed several weeks prior to the accident. There is no evidence that the left prop had ever been successfully cycled to the full feather position. The operator and pilots were not aware of Hamilton Standard SB 657 recommending full-feather checks every 30 days. Left prop feathering motor relays were not recovered. All 11 parachutists were found in the center part of the fuselage; there was no evidence of restraint usage.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY THE OPERATOR WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DURING THE CRITICAL TAKEOFF PHASE OF FLIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT DID NOT, OR WAS UNABLE TO, ATTAIN A FULL-FEATHER POSITION ON THE LEFT ENGINE PROPELLER, WHICH WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY ENABLED THE AIRPLANE TO SUSTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL AIRSPEED.

Full Narrative

AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN AT LOW ALTITUDE TRAILING SMOKE FROM THE LEFT ENGINE. WITNESSES SAW THE WINGS 'TIPPING' BACK AND FORTH, THEN A WING DROPPED AND HIT THE GROUND. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A SUPERCHARGER BEARING HAD FAILED IN THE LEFT ENGINE. THE LEFT ENGINE HAD BEEN RECENTLY INSTALLED BY NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL AFTER BEING INACTIVE FOR 18 YRS WITHOUT PRESERVATION. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ABOUT 184 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION; NO RECORD OF SUBSEQUENT 100-HR INSPECTION. THE LEFT PROP BLADES WERE FOUND IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE OPERATING RANGE AND THE FEATHERED POSITION. THE LEFT PROP WAS CHANGED SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT PROP HAD EVER BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CYCLED TO THE FULL FEATHER POSITION. THE OPERATOR AND PILOTS WERE NOT AWARE OF HAMILTON STANDARD SB 657 RECOMMENDING FULL-FEATHER CHECKS EVERY 30 DAYS. LEFT PROP FEATHERING MOTOR RELAYS NOT RECOVERED. ALL 11 PARACHUTISTS WERE FOUND IN CENTER PART OF FUSELAGE; NO EVIDENCE OF RESTRAINT USEAGE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:40 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftBeech C-45H
Tail NumberN3657G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorExa
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985-AN-14B · Reciprocating · 450
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary12 injuries (12 fatalities)
Fatal12
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total12
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data