Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Electrical System Malfunction/Failure: Beechcraft C90A King Air, N1551C; accident occurred February 14, 2017 in Rattan, Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

























The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
EagleMed LLC; Birmingham, Alabama
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N1551C

Location: Rattan, OK
Accident Number: CEN17LA121
Date & Time: 02/14/2017, 1145 CST
Registration: N1551C
Aircraft: BEECH C90A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Electrical system malf/failure
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Unspecified)

On February 14, 2017, about 1145 central standard time, a Beech C90A twin-engine airplane, N1551C, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing following a loss of power on one engine near Rattan, Oklahoma. The pilot and two medical crew members on board were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by EagleMed LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight.

The pilot stated that the engine start and airplane power-up were normal. The engine ice vanes were lowered, and the de-icing system was activated as required for ground operations. The ice vanes were subsequently raised before takeoff. Takeoff and climb out were routine, and he subsequently leveled off the airplane at 7,000 ft. mean sea level (msl). The air traffic controller informed him of "heavy rain showers" near the destination airport and he "put the ice vanes down." Shortly afterward, the airplane experienced two "quick" electrical power fluctuation; "everything went away and then came back." "Seconds later the entire [electrical] system failed." Due to the associated loss of navigation capability while operating in instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot set a general course for better weather conditions based upon the preflight weather briefing.

During the attempt to find a suitable hole in the clouds to descend through under visual conditions, the left engine lost power. The pilot ultimately located a field through the cloud cover and executed a single engine precautionary landing. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right engine mount and firewall.

A postaccident examination was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors and operator personnel. The left propeller blades were bent aft and did not exhibit any curling of the blades. The right propeller blades were curled in the direction of rotation. The left- and right-wing fuel tanks did not contain any visible fuel. The left nacelle fuel tank did not contain any visible fuel. The right nacelle fuel tank appeared to contain about one quart of fuel. The three-position Ignition and Engine Start/Starter Only switches on the cockpit instrument panel were in the ON position. The Engine Anti-Ice switches were in the ON position. The cabin medical bed electrical switches corresponding to the inverter and accessories were in the ON position; the remaining medical bed switches were OFF. A postrecovery examination was conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge and operator personnel. No anomalies consistent with an in-flight electrical system malfunction were observed. When the airplane battery was initially checked during the exam the voltmeter indicated 10.7 volts; the battery was charged and appeared to function normally thereafter.

The operator reported that 253 gallons (1,720 lbs.) of fuel were onboard at takeoff and the airplane gross weight was 7,838 lbs. The accident flight duration was 3.65 hrs. Airplane performance data indicated that at maximum cruise power, the expected fuel flow would be about 632 lbs./hr., resulting in an endurance of approximately 2.7 hrs. At maximum range power, the expected fuel consumption was about 406 lbs./hr., resulting in an endurance of approximately 4.2 hrs.

Both the pilot and medical crew described a lack of communication and coordination among crew members. The pilot reported that the medical crew became apprehensive as the emergency transpired. On three occasions, as the pilot maneuvered the airplane attempting to locate a hole in the clouds to descend, the medical crew member in the co-pilot seat grabbed the control wheel to keep the pilot from banking the airplane. He subsequently relinquished the control wheel as directed by the pilot. The medical crew attempted to locate the airplane by using cellphones to coordinate with the operator's operations center or by using the cellphone GPS capability. However, these efforts resulted in multiple course adjustments and ultimately failed to encounter visual meteorological conditions before fuel exhaustion on the left engine.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 72, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/20/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/05/2016
Flight Time:  22000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 400 hours (Total, this make and model), 21500 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 41 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 24 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: BEECH
Registration:N1551C 
Model/Series: C90A A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1994
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: LJ-1365
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 7
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/20/2016, Continuous Airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 10485 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 75 Hours
Engines: 2 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 7862.1 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Canada
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-21
Registered Owner: EAGLEMED LLC
Rated Power: 550 hp
Operator: EAGLEMED LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MLC, 771 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 49 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1153 CST
Direction from Accident Site: 148°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 700 ft agl
Visibility:  2 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1100 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 20°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 7°C / 4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Light - Drizzle; Fog
Departure Point: McAlester, OK (MLC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Idabel, OK (4O4)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 0806 CST
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 3 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries:3 None 
Latitude, Longitude:  34.238611, -95.253889

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA121
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Tuesday, February 14, 2017 in Rattan, OK
Aircraft: BEECH C90A, registration: N1551C
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On February 14, 2017, about 1145 central standard time, a Beech C90A airplane, N1551C, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Rattan, Oklahoma. The pilot and two medical crew members on board were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by EagleMed LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as air medical flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the McAlester Regional Airport (MLC), McAlester, Oklahoma, at 0806. The intended destination was the Mc Curtain County Regional Airport (4O4), Idabel, Oklahoma.

The pilot reported that about 15 minutes after takeoff, while established in cruise flight at 7,000 feet mean sea level, the airplane experienced two "quick" electrical power fluctuations. The airplane subsequently lost all electrical power. Due to the associated loss of navigation capability while operating in instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot set a general course for better weather conditions as noted in the preflight weather briefing. During the effort to find a suitable hole in the clouds to descend through under visual conditions, the left engine lost power. The pilot ultimately located a field through the cloud cover and executed a single engine precautionary landing. The nose landing gear collapsed and the radome separated during the landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right engine mount and firewall.   
 




PUSHMATAHA COUNTY, Okla. (KXII) -- A plane made an emergency landing about 11:05 a.m. Tuesday in a field.

A plane made an emergency landing Tuesday near Rattan. None of the three people on board were injured.

Pushmataha County Sheriff B.J. Hedgecock said a twin engine King Air 90 plane landed east of Rattan.

According to Jim Gregory, a Med-Trans Corp. spokesperson, the plane was Med-Trans Corporation’s AirMed Regional King Air C-90 based in eastern Oklahoma. Onboard the aircraft was a pilot, nurse and paramedic,

According to Hedgecock, none of the three aboard the aircraft were injured.

According to Gregory, the plane was heading to Idabel, Okla. to pick up a patient. "Local/State Law Enforcement and 911 are on scene to secure the aircraft and ensure crew safety," Gregory said in a press release. "NTSB and FAA authorities have been notified and we are cooperating fully with the investigation."

Story, video and photo:  http://www.kxii.com














AIRCRAFT:  1994 Beech C90, N1551C; S/N LJ-1365

ENGINE(S):    Left Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A, S/N: PCE-25774

Right Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A S/N: PCE-25765

APPROXIMATE TOTAL HOURS (estimated from logbooks or other information):

ENGINES:  Left Engine TT 7831.5 TSOH: 4265.6

Right Engine TT 7937.5 TSOH: 4371.6

AIRFRAME:  TT: 7937.5

EQUIPMENT: Avionics: L3 Sky899, Avidyne EX500, Bendix/King KGP-560 GPWS, Garmin 500W, PS PMA 7000B audio panel, APC-65 series auto pilot, EFIS 84, GDL 69, MD-835 install, Sky Connect Tracker, Collins WXR 270 Radar, TRC 899 TCAS, Dual Collins TDR-94, Collins DME-42, Collins ALT-50A Radio, Altimeter, Collins ADF-60A,                               Non-Medical Equipment: Cleveland wheels and brakes, Cleveland nose, Raisback strakes, Raisback props, Gross weight increase, BLR winglets, Frake exhaust stacks.

 **PLEASE NOTE THE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ON BOARD AND THE SPECTRUM AND LIFEPORT AIR AMBULANCE MODS ARE NOT PART OF THE SALVAGE.**

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT: On February 14, 2017, N1551C experienced electrical failure while in flight. The pilot flew the aircraft in an effort to burn fuel prior to an emergency landing. Subsequently, pilot was able to manually extend the gear down after some time. However, by this time the aircraft suffered fuel starvation and had a forced landing in a pasture.

DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGES: See photos and Damage Report.

LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT:  Air Salvage of Dallas   

Read more here:  http://www.avclaims.com

1 comment:

  1. What position was the left starter/generator switch in?

    ReplyDelete