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NTSB Report
May 16, 1988 · Cessna S550 · N81SH
Allentown, PA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
May 16, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Allentown, PA
Aircraft
Cessna S550
Tail Number
N81SH
Operator
Con Air
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC88IA141
WHILE CRUISING AT FL350 IN LIGHT TURBULENCE, THE TRAILING HALF OF THE LEFT HAND OUTBOARD TRAILING EDGE FLAP SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE PILOT DECLARED AND EMERGENCY AND LANDED AT POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PORTION OF THE DAMAGED FLAP WHICH REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE ACFT WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED AT THE NTSB MATERIALS LABORATORY. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FLAP DRAIN/VENT HOLES WERE SEALED WITH A FILLED MATERIAL AND PAINT. THE ACFT HAD A TOTAL OF 206 HOUR OF FLIGHT TIME. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, AN EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE WAS ISSUED CALLING FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE DRAIN/VENT HOLES ON THE INBOARD END OF EACH OF THE FOUR FLAP PANELS ON CESSNA S550 ACFT.
Full Narrative
WHILE CRUISING AT FL350 IN LIGHT TURBULENCE, THE TRAILING HALF OF THE LEFT HAND OUTBOARD TRAILING EDGE FLAP SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE PILOT DECLARED AND EMERGENCY AND LANDED AT POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PORTION OF THE DAMAGED FLAP WHICH REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE ACFT WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED AT THE NTSB MATERIALS LABORATORY. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FLAP DRAIN/VENT HOLES WERE SEALED WITH A FILLED MATERIAL AND PAINT. THE ACFT HAD A TOTAL OF 206 HOUR OF FLIGHT TIME. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, AN EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE WAS ISSUED CALLING FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE DRAIN/VENT HOLES ON THE INBOARD END OF EACH OF THE FOUR FLAP PANELS ON CESSNA S550 ACFT.
Flight
Event TypeIncident
Event Time19:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionIflt
Aircraft
AircraftCessna S550
Tail NumberN81SH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorCon Air
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT-15D-4B · Turbofan · 2500
Seats11
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 40 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO