Loss of Control on Ground: Mitsubishi Mu-2B-40, N425GZ; accident occurred January 29, 2020 at Flying Feathers Airport (11Y), Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin

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

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hartzell Propeller Inc; Piqua, Ohio

Honeywell Aerospace; Phoenix, Arizona

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America Inc; Dallas, Texas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

https://registry.faa.gov/N425GZ

Location: Chilton, Wisconsin 

Accident Number: CEN20LA125

Date & Time: January 29, 2020, 09:00 Local

Registration: N425GZ

Aircraft: Mitsubishi MU 2B-40 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Loss of control on ground

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On January 29, 2020, about 0900 central standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 airplane, N425GZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Flying Feathers Airport (11Y), Chilton, Wisconsin. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was informed of the accident on March 12, 2020, by the airframe manufacturer; it was not reported to the NTSB by the pilot. The pilot stated that while landing at his private turf airstrip, the airplane yawed left and the right wing was substantially damaged when it contacted the ground.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport 

Age: 48,Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter 

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None 

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations 

Last FAA Medical Exam: February 20, 2020

Occupational Pilot: Yes 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: December 14, 2019

Flight Time: 21000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 93 hours (Total, this make and model), 53 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 27 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) On December 14, 2019, the pilot completed an initial MU-2 training course, which included 14.9 flight hours and 20 hours of ground training as required 14 CFR Part 91 Subpart N.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Mitsubishi 

Registration: N425GZ

Model/Series: MU 2B-40 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 1980

Amateur Built: No

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal

Serial Number: 425 S.A.

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle

Seats:

Date/Type of Last Inspection: August 9, 2019 100 hour 

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 11500 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection: 49 Hrs 

Engines: 2 Turbo prop

Airframe Total Time: 4723 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer: Honeywell

ELT: Installed, not activated 

Engine Model/Series: TPE-33110511M

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 940 Horsepower

Operator: On file 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KOSH,782 ft msl 

Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 08:53 Local 

Direction from Accident Site: 254°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Visibility: 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 2800 ft AGL 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: / 

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None

Wind Direction: 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point: -4°C / -8°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: New Holstein, WI (8D1 )

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Destination: Chilton, WI (11Y )

Type of Clearance: None

Departure Time: 

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Flying Feathers 11Y

Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf

Airport Elevation: 940 ft msl

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 18 

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 2500 ft / 85 ft

VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop

According to the pilot, the turf runway was 2,500 ft x 85 ft; publicly available information indicated the turf runway was 1,000 x 60 ft.

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 44.061111,-88.194999(est)

An examination of the airplane, which included engine rigging, propellers, and flight control continuity, did not reveal an anomaly that would have resulted in a directional control issue. 

Additional Information 

The flight manual contained landing distance information for a dry, hard surface runway. Landing distance information for a turf runway was not available to the pilot. Investigators calculated airplane landing performance based on ambient temperature, calm wind, zero runway slope, an airplane weight of 500 lbs above empty weight, flaps at 20 deg;, and no use of reverse thrust. Estimated landing distance over a 50 ft obstacle and ground roll were 2,500 and 1,500 ft, respectively. The airplane manufacturer estimated the landing distance over a 50 ft obstacle and ground roll for a turf (or wet) runway to be about 4,250 and 3,250 ft, respectively. The pilot did not respond to requests for additional information, such as expected landing distance, runway braking condition, touchdown location, actions taken after touchdown, and where the airplane departed the runway surface.