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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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May 8, 1987 · Casa C-212-CC · N432CA

Mayaguez, PR

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 8, 1987
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (2 fatalities, 4 minor injuries)
Location
Mayaguez, PR
Aircraft
Casa C-212-CC
Tail Number
N432CA
Operator
American Eagle Flt 5452
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA87MA030

After several maintenance adjustments of the right propeller and flight idle fuel flow, the aircraft was test flown and released for flight. Several pilots continued to note discrepancies concerning the right propeller system. Adjustments were made and the aircraft was again released for flight. At Mayaguez, the crew made a short, steep approach to the runway. On very short final, witnesses said they heard sounds resembling a propeller in reverse thrust. The aircraft made an extreme yaw to the right, followed by a left bank, then a right bank. The aircraft impacted right wing first. The post-accident investigation revealed that the right propeller had been in the beta range. The right engine flight idle fuel flow was excessively high. Exam of the maintenance program showed deficiencies in the management, supervision, and handling of pilot-reported problems. The investigation also found the FAA management of the bilateral type certification of the C-212-CC ineffective. (For further information see NTSB/AAR-88/07.)

Full Narrative

AFTER SEVERAL MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENTS OF THE RIGHT PROPELLER AND FLIGHT IDLE FUEL FLOW, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TEST FLOWN AND RELEASED FOR FLIGHT. SEVERAL PILOTS CONTINUED TO NOTE DESCREPANCIES CONCERNING THE RIGHT PROPELLER SYSTEM. ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS AGAIN RELEASED FOR FLIGHT. AT MAYAGUEZ, THE CREW MADE A SHORT, STEEP APPROACHTO THE RUNWAY. ON VERY SHORT FINAL WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD SOUNDS RESEMBLING A PROPELLER IN REVERSE THRUST. THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN EXTREME YAW TO THE RIGHT, FOLLOWED BY A LEFT BANK, THEN A RIGHT BANK. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED RIGHT WING FIRST. THE POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT PROPELLER HAD BEEN IN THE BETA RANGE. THE RIGHT ENGINE FLIGHT IDLE FUEL FLOW WAS EXCESSIVELY HIGH. EXAM OF THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM SHOWED DEFICIENCIES IN THE MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISION, AND HANDLING OF PILOT-REPORTED PROBLEMS. THE INVESTIGATION ALSO FOUND THE FAA MANAGEMENT OF THE BILATERAL TYPE CERTIFICATION OF THE C-212-CC INEFFECTIVE. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SEE NTSB/AAR-88/07.)

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:50 AST
Nearest AirportMAYAGUEZ (0nm N)
Runway9
Runway Length4999 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCasa C-212-CC
Tail NumberN432CA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAmerican Eagle Flt 5452
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE-331-10R · Turboprop · 900
Seats19

People & Injuries

Injury Summary6 injuries (2 fatalities, 4 minor injuries)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor4
Uninjured0
Total6
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
Wind160° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time10:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data