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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

August 23, 1990 · Grumman G-159 · N80RD

Houston, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 23, 1990
Injury Outcomes
15 injuries (3 fatalities, 4 serious injuries, 8 minor injuries)
Location
Houston, TX
Aircraft
Grumman G-159
Tail Number
N80RD
Operator
Rowan Companies
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW90MA161

The passengers and witnesses reported that during takeoff, the aircraft yawed both left and right after lift-off. It then veered to the left and contacted the ground in a left wing low attitude between the runway and a parallel taxiway. An investigation revealed evidence that the left engine had sustained a partial loss of power due to a malfunctioning fuel pump. There were indications the power loss was not sufficient to trigger or allow completion of the autofeathering operation of the left propeller. Feathering of the left propeller had been manually initiated, but the propeller had not reached the feather position before impact. Manual feathering operation required the feathering pump button be held about 5 seconds. 'V' speeds (KIAS) for this flight were: V1 92, VR 99, V2 110, normal VMCA (dead engine propeller feathered, flaps set for takeoff and aircraft out of ground effect) 101, VMCA (dead engine propeller unfeathered/windmilling and flaps set for takeoff) 127 knots. Examination of the actuators revealed the gear was retracted and the flaps were set for takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause

PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL PUMP, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER IN THE LEFT ENGINE, BUT NOT ENOUGH OF A POWER LOSS TO TRIGGER AND/OR COMPLETE THE AUTOFEATHERING OPERATION OF THE LEFT PROPELLER, THUS ALLOWING INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE CREW TO MANUALLY FEATHER THE PROPELLER OR ATTAIN VMC (FOR THE AIRCRAFT CONFIGURED WITH AN UNFEATHERED PROPELLER).

Full Narrative

THE PASSENGERS & WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED BOTH LEFT & RIGHT AFTER LIFT-OFF. IT THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT & CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE BETWEEN THE RUNWAY & A PARALLEL TAXIWAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT ENGINE HAD SUSTAINED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO TRIGGER OR ALLOW COMPLETION OF THE AUTOFEATHERING OPERATION OF THE LEFT PROPELLER. FEATHERING OF THE LEFT PROPELLER HAD BEEN MANUALLY INITIATED, BUT THE PROPELLER HAD NOT REACHED THE FEATHER POSITION BEFORE IMPACT. MANUAL FEATHERING OPERATION REQUIRED THE FEATHERING PUMP BUTTON BE HELD ABOUT 5 SEC. 'V' SPEEDS (KIAS) FOR THIS FLT WERE: V1 92, VR 99, V2 110, NORMAL VMCA (DEAD ENGINE PROPELLER FEATHERED, FLAPS SET FOR TAKEOFF & AIRCRAFT OUT OF GROUND EFFECT) 101, VMCA (DEAD ENGINE PROPELLER UNFEATHERED/WINDMILLING & FLAPS SET FOR TAKEOFF) 127 KTS. EXAM OF THE ACTUATORS REVEALED THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED & THE FLAPS WERE SET FOR TAKEOFF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:20 CDT
Nearest AirportHouston Intl (0nm N)
Runway14L
Runway Length12000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman G-159
Tail NumberN80RD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRowan Companies
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · 529-8X · Turboprop · 2185
Seats17

People & Injuries

Injury Summary15 injuries (3 fatalities, 4 serious injuries, 8 minor injuries)
Fatal3
Serious4
Minor8
Uninjured0
Total15
Crew 1Age 60 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 20000 ft
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time22:20
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data