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February 27, 1989 · Cessna S550 · N29X

Poughkeepsie, NY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 27, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Poughkeepsie, NY
Aircraft
Cessna S550
Tail Number
N29X
Operator
Executive Air Fleet
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC89FA092

WITNESSES RPRTD ACFT WAS HI DRG APCH & LNDD NOSEWHEEL 1ST ABT 1600' BYD THRESHOLD, THEN BCM AIRBORNE & BOUNCED 2 TIMES. PLT STATED THAT BFR TCHDWN, HE STARTED TO 'SPOOL UP' ENGS, BUT NOTED LACK OF RESPONSE, THEN RETARDED THROTTLES & LNDD. HE SAID HE APPLIED BRAKES & SELECTED 'FULL REVERSE' & NOTED NO RESPONSE. RPRTDLY, NOSEWHEEL 'SKIPPED INTO AIR' WHILE ACFT STILL HAD FLYING SPEED. WITH INSUFFICIENT RWY RMNG TO STOP, HE ELECTED TO STOW REVERSERS & BGN GO-ARND. HE NOTED NO RESPONSE FM ENGS, THO ACFT HAD BCM AIRBORNE. ACFT THEN SETTLED BYD DEP END OF RWY & CRASHED ON ROUGH TRRN. EXAM REVEALED ENGS HAD INGESTED TWIGS, GRASS & DIRT. REVERSE LOAD LIMITERS (L/L) ON BOTH ENGS WERE FND IN TRIPPED PSN. FLT MAN STATED THAT TO AVOID ACTUATION OF L/L, DO NOT ADVANCE PRIMARY THROTTLE AFTER RTRNG REVERSE THRUST LEVER TO STOW UNTIL UNLOCK LIGHT IS OUT; MAINT REQUIRED TO RESET ACTUATED L/L. L/L WAS INCORPORATED ON THRUST REVERSER TO REDUCE ENG PWR TO IDLE, IF INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED IN FLT. DRG POST-ACDNT CHK, BOTH ENGS WERE OPERD TO 85% AFTER L/L RESET.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE POWERPLANT CONTROLS, WHICH RESULTED IN ACTUATION (TRIPPING) OF THE REVERSE LOAD LIMITERS ON THE THRUST REVERSERS AND SUBSEQUENT REDUCTION OF AVAILABLE POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE, EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES RPRTD ACFT WAS HI DRG APCH & LNDD NOSEWHEEL 1ST ABT 1600' BYD THRESHOLD, THEN BCM AIRBORNE & BOUNCED 2 TIMES. PLT STATED THAT BFR TCHDWN, HE STARTED TO 'SPOOL UP' ENGS, BUT NOTED LACK OF RESPONSE, THEN RETARDED THROTTLES & LNDD. HE SAID HE APPLIED BRAKES & SELECTED 'FULL REVERSE' & NOTED NO RESPONSE. RPRTDLY, NOSEWHEEL 'SKIPPED INTO AIR' WHILE ACFT STILL HAD FLYING SPEED. WITH INSUFFICIENT RWY RMNG TO STOP, HE ELECTED TO STOW REVERSERS & BGN GO-ARND. HE NOTED NO RESPONSE FM ENGS, THO ACFT HAD BCM AIRBORNE. ACFT THEN SETTLED BYD DEP END OF RWY & CRASHED ON ROUGH TRRN. EXAM REVEALED ENGS HAD INGESTED TWIGS, GRASS & DIRT. REVERSE LOAD LIMITERS (L/L) ON BOTH ENGS WERE FND IN TRIPPED PSN. FLT MAN STATED THAT TO AVOID ACTUATION OF L/L, DO NOT ADVANCE PRIMARY THROTTLE AFTER RTRNG REVERSE THRUST LEVER TO STOW UNTIL UNLOCK LIGHT IS OUT; MAINT REQUIRED TO RESET ACTUATED L/L. L/L WAS INCORPORATED ON THRUST REVERSER TO REDUCE ENG PWR TO IDLE, IF INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED IN FLT. DRG POST-ACDNT CHK, BOTH ENGS WERE OPERD TO 85% AFTER L/L RESET.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:08 EST
Nearest AirportDutches County (0nm N)
Runway24
Runway Length5001 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna S550
Tail NumberN29X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorExecutive Air Fleet
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT15D-4B · Turbofan · 2500
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 23 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time13:16
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data