Monday, August 07, 2017

Cessna A188B, N3047J: Accident occurred August 04, 2017 at Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport (MHL), Saline County, Missouri

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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Kansas City, Missouri

Aviation Accident Final 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/N3047J


Location: Marshall, MO
Accident Number: CEN17LA303
Date & Time: 08/04/2017, 0900 CDT
Registration: N3047J
Aircraft: CESSNA A188B
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

Analysis 

After takeoff for the agricultural application flight and when the commercial pilot reduced engine power to climb, the engine "surged." He increased the throttle, but the engine "surged" again. He subsequently applied full throttle, but he was unable to maintain a positive climb rate. The airplane gradually settled into a bean field off the end of the runway. The airplane impacted a fence before coming to rest in an adjacent field. The pilot stated that the airplane seemed to be "sagging" after takeoff but that the engine instrument indications appeared to be normal.

Postaccident engine examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the engine surging reported by the pilot could not be determined. According to the pilot, the airspeed indicator was inoperative at the time of the accident. It is likely that the pilot's inability to monitor the airspeed due to the lack of an operative airspeed indicator led to the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and the subsequent aerodynamic stall/mush and degraded climb performance.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inability to accurately monitor the airplane's airspeed after takeoff due to an inoperative airspeed indicator, which resulted in the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and the subsequent aerodynamic stall/mush and degraded climb performance. 

Findings

Aircraft
Angle of attack - Capability exceeded (Cause)
Airspeed - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Climb rate - Not attained/maintained (Cause) 

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Fence/fence post - Contributed to outcome

Factual Information 

***This report was modified on March 8, 2018. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.***

On August 4, 2017, about 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B airplane, N3047J, was substantially damaged when it settled into a bean field after takeoff from runway 18 (5,006 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at the Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport (MHL), Marshall, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by private individuals as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local aerial application flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that the airplane was loaded with about 120 gallons of fertilizer and 54 gallons of fuel at the time of the accident takeoff. The pretakeoff run-up was normal. After takeoff, he reduced engine power for climb. When he did so, the engine "surged." He responded by increasing the throttle "a little," but the engine "surged" again. He subsequently applied full throttle, but was unable to maintain a positive rate of climb. The airplane settled into a bean field and encountered a fence before coming to rest in the adjoining corn field.

The pilot informed a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the airplane seemed to be "sagging" after takeoff. The engine indications appeared to be normal before the accident. The airplane had a full load of fertilizer and fuel at the time of the accident takeoff. The pilot also informed the inspector that the airspeed indicator had been inoperative for some time.

A postaccident engine examination conducted by FAA inspectors did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact loss of engine power. The wing flaps were positioned at 20 degrees deflection at the time of the exam.

The airplane flight manual noted that the recommended takeoff wing flap setting for restricted category airplanes was 10 degrees. The approved takeoff range for normal category airplanes was 0 to 20 degrees. The information manual indicated that optimum takeoff performance at heavy weights is obtained using 10 degrees wing flaps.

FAA regulations (14 CFR 91.205) require an operational airspeed indicator for civil aircraft operating under a standard airworthiness certificate. The accident airplane was operating under a restricted category airworthiness certificate and was not required to comply with that regulation. 

History of Flight

Takeoff
Miscellaneous/other
Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Emergency descent
Off-field or emergency landing
Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 22, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/26/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/07/2017
Flight Time:  475 hours (Total, all aircraft), 210 hours (Total, this make and model), 210 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 99 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N3047J
Model/Series: A188B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1979
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 18803596T
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/23/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 4200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 7845.1 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: IO-540-S1A5
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 300 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MHL, 779 ft msl
Observation Time: 0855 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 180°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 11°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots, 300°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.17 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Marshall, MO (MHL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Marshall, MO (MHL)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0900 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Marshall Memorial Muni (MHL)
Runway Surface Type: Concrete
Airport Elevation: 779 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 18
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5006 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  39.095556, -93.202778 (est)

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA303
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, August 04, 2017 in Marshall, MO
Aircraft: CESSNA A188B, registration: N3047J
Injuries: 1 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 August 4, 2017, about 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B airplane, N3047J, was substantially damaged when it impacted the terrain after takeoff from runway 18 (5,006 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at the Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport (MHL), Marshall, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by private individuals as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local aerial application flight originated from MHL shortly before the accident.


The pilot stated that he loaded the airplane was 120 gallons for the aerial application flight. The pretakeoff run-up was normal. After takeoff, he reduced engine power for climb. When he did so, the engine "surged." He responded by increasing the throttle "a little," but the engine "surged" again and he recalled thinking that the engine was losing power. The airplane "steadily sank" and he subsequently applied full power. He ultimately landed in a bean field and encountered a chain link fence before coming to rest.

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