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September 12, 1982 · Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 · N66U

Hayden, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 12, 1982
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (6 fatalities)
Location
Hayden, CO
Aircraft
Mitsubishi MU-2B-25
Tail Number
N66U
Operator
Pat Griffin
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN82AA191

A MAINT SUPERVISOR & 2 PLTS NOTED THAT THE L ENG DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY WHILE BEING STARTED. AFT STARTING, THE PLT TAXIED TO RWY 10 FOR AN IFR DEPARTURE. SINCE THE TWY DID NOT EXTEND TO THE END OF THE RWY, THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT WAITED ON THE TWY, JUST SHORT OF THE RWY, APRX 2967 FT FROM THE END. HE OBSD SMOKE COMING FROM THE L ENG OF THE MU-2 & REPORTED THIS INFO ON THE UNICOM FREQ. HE REPORTED THAT THE MU-2 CONTD & ROTATED FOR TKOF APRX 200 TO 250 YDS EAST OF HIS PSN. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT CLIMBED TO APRX 300-400 FT AFL, THEN TURNED LEFT TWD HIGHER TERRAIN. AFTER TURNING, IT ENTER WHAT 2 WITNESSES DESCRIBED AS A VMC ROLL, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES. A TEARDOWN OF THE L ENG REVEALED THAT A TURBINE BEARING, PN 3101092-1, HAD BEEN MISALIGNED & SUBSEQUENTLY BEGAN TO FAIL, DAMAGING THE 2ND & 3RD STAGES OF THE TURBINE SECTION. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 6597 FT. THE COMPUTED TKOF ROLL WAS 1620 FT & THE COMPUTED ACCELERATE-STOP DISTANCE WAS 3100 FT. THE LNDG GEAR & SEL, FND IN DWN PSN.

Full Narrative

A MAINT SUPERVISOR & 2 PLTS NOTED THAT THE L ENG DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY WHILE BEING STARTED. AFT STARTING, THE PLT TAXIED TO RWY 10 FOR AN IFR DEPARTURE. SINCE THE TWY DID NOT EXTEND TO THE END OF THE RWY, THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT WAITED ON THE TWY, JUST SHORT OF THE RWY, APRX 2967 FT FROM THE END. HE OBSD SMOKE COMING FROM THE L ENG OF THE MU-2 & REPORTED THIS INFO ON THE UNICOM FREQ. HE REPORTED THAT THE MU-2 CONTD & ROTATED FOR TKOF APRX 200 TO 250 YDS EAST OF HIS PSN. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT CLIMBED TO APRX 300-400 FT AFL, THEN TURNED LEFT TWD HIGHER TERRAIN. AFTER TURNING, IT ENTER WHAT 2 WITNESSES DESCRIBED AS A VMC ROLL, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES. A TEARDOWN OF THE L ENG REVEALED THAT A TURBINE BEARING, PN 3101092-1, HAD BEEN MISALIGNED & SUBSEQUENTLY BEGAN TO FAIL, DAMAGING THE 2ND & 3RD STAGES OF THE TURBINE SECTION. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 6597 FT. THE COMPUTED TKOF ROLL WAS 1620 FT & THE COMPUTED ACCELERATE-STOP DISTANCE WAS 3100 FT. THE LNDG GEAR & SEL, FND IN DWN PSN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:28 MDT
Nearest AirportYampa Valley (0nm N)
Runway10
Runway Length6999 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftMitsubishi MU-2B-25
Tail NumberN66U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPat Griffin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE-331-6-252 · Turboprop · 665
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury Summary6 injuries (6 fatalities)
Fatal6
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total6
Crew 1Age 53 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 5 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time12:50

Appendix: Source Data