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March 27, 2006 · Cessna 402C · N223PB

Dorado, PR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 27, 2006
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 5 uninjured
Location
Dorado, PR
Aircraft
Cessna 402C
Tail Number
N223PB
Operator
Cape Air
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
MIA06LA071

While flying at 5,000 feet in a broken layer with some light rain and turbulence with the autopilot on, the pilot later reported encountering severe turbulence, which lasted for 1 second. Several passengers hit their heads on the ceiling as a result. She reported avoiding all clouds after that, requested medical assistance, and landed uneventfully. One passenger who was injured reported that the pilot advised them that the flight would be "bumpy" and they needed to keep their seatbelts fastened, which she complied with. At the time of the event she could hear "...something like small pebbles dropping onto the plane. There was mist on the windshield that streamed from the bottom/middle of the windshield to the top." She further stated that after assessing herself, "maybe a minute or two, the pilot turned on a screen that had been blank up to that point." She also reported seeing "...green blobs that came on and off. It reminded me of the radar screen that I have seen on TV." Weather radar images indicate the airplane was near VIP Level 1 to Level 4 radar returns at the time of the occurrence.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to use on-board weather radar equipment for weather avoidance and the pilot's continued operation into known adverse weather conditions, resulting in injury to passengers.

Full Narrative

On March 27, 2006, about 1330 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 402C, N223PB, registered to and operated by Hyannis Air Service, Inc., dba Cape Air, as flight 36, experienced in-flight clear air turbulence while flying over Dorado, Puerto Rico. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 135 scheduled domestic passenger flight from Eugenio Maria de Hostos Airport, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airplane was not damaged and the pilot and four passengers were not injured. One passenger was seriously injured, and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 1317, from Mayaguez. The pilot stated that while flying at 5,000 feet in a broken layer with some light rain and turbulence, the flight had, "...just broken out for a few miles. Every one was at ease a few passengers were sleeping, that's when we hit a severe [turbulence]. This only lasted about 1 second, Everyone was thrown in [their] seats. It was so severe that even though I was strapped in I was floating for a few seconds until my seatbelt caught me. I looked down at the altimeter and it was still showing 5,000 [feet] and on course. The autopilot stayed on. Our [weather] radar was not picking up anything ahead." The person in the right front seat and several passengers hit their heads on the ceiling. She looked back and the passengers appeared, "... stunned but otherwise OK." She asked air traffic control for a lower altitude and weather deviation, and was advised to deviate to the north only and to descend to 4,000 feet. She "... avoided all clouds after that and she pulled the power back." She notified operations for medical assistance, and proceeded to the destination airport where she landed uneventfully. The incident occurred a few miles west of the Dorado NDB. The passenger who sustained the serious injury reported that the pilot advised them that the flight would be "bumpy" and they needed to keep their seatbelts fastened. She further reported that her seatbelt was tightly fastened at the time of the turbulence encounter, and at that time, she could hear "...something like small pebbles dropping onto the plane. There was mist on the windshield that streamed from the bottom/middle of the windshield to the top." She further stated that after assessing herself, "maybe a minute or two, the pilot turned on a screen that had been blank up to that point." She also reported seeing "...green blobs that came on and off. It reminded me of the radar screen that I have seen on TV." The pilot landed without any more incidents. NTSB review of weather radar images from the reported area and time of occurrence revealed that intensities of approximately 20-45 DBZ were noted west of Dorado, Puerto Rico. These correlate to National Weather Service (NWS) Video Integrated Processor (VIP) Level 1 (Very Light) to Level 4 (very strong) echo intensities.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 AST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 402C
Tail NumberN223PB
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorCape Air
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTeledyne Continental · TSIO-520VB · Reciprocating · 325 | Teledyne Continental · TSIO520VB · Reciprocating · 325
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 5 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor2
Uninjured5
Total8
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 14 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data