Saturday, February 06, 2021

Turbulence Encounter: Beechcraft B300 King Air 350, N862UP; accident occurred January 13, 2021 in Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina







Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Enfield, Connecticut

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: 

Wheels Up


Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Accident Number: ERA21LA115
Date and Time: January 13, 2021, 21:00 Local
Registration: N862UP
Aircraft: Beech 300
Aircraft Damage: None
Defining Event: Turbulence encounter 
Injuries: 1 Serious, 4 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled

Analysis

According to the operator, the airplane was cruising at flight level 250, about 1 hour and 40 minutes into the flight, when it encountered 30 to 45 seconds of severe turbulence. One of the three passengers was not seated and sustained serious injuries. The injured passenger reported that she struck her head on the overhead ceiling compartment, then fell onto the armrest. Another passenger assisted her to her seat, but the injured passenger had difficulty fastening her seatbelt. According to the operator, the crew reported the turbulence to air traffic control, advised the controller of the injury, and continued to the destination airport at the request of the passengers. At the destination airport, the passenger was met by emergency medical services personnel and declined additional medical treatment. The passenger reported that she sought medical treatment the following week and had a fractured rib. The pilot recorded the passenger’s seatbelt in the aircraft maintenance logbook. Mechanics performed a functional check of the seatbelt and found it to be operational, and the airplane was returned to service.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
An encounter with severe turbulence, which resulted in serious injury to an unseated passenger.

Findings

Environmental issues Clear air turbulence - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-cruise Turbulence encounter (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport 
Age: 45, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 23, 2020
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: February 24, 2020
Flight Time: 4685 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1650 hours (Total, this make and model), 3250 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Co-pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport 
Age: 38, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): 
Airplane Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 1, 2020
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 9, 2020
Flight Time: 7809 hours (Total, all aircraft), 45 hours (Total, this make and model), 4046 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 45 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 14 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Male
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech 
Registration: N862UP
Model/Series: 300
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2016 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Commuter 
Serial Number: FL-1061
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 11
Date/Type of Last Inspection: December 18, 2020 Continuous airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 15100 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 87 Hrs
Engines: 2 Turbo prop
Airframe Total Time: 3155 Hrs as of last inspection Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Canada
ELT: C126 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-60A
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 1050 Horsepower
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand air taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As: Wheel Up
Operator Designator Code: 02GA

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: SUT, 25 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 21:15 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 190°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  / Clear air
Wind Direction: 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  / Severe
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Naples, FL (APF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Norfolk, VA (OPF)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 19:22 Local
Type of Airspace: Class A

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 4 None
Latitude, Longitude: 34.0104,-78.0584 (est)

2 comments:

  1. Nope. Female passenger was injured (broken rib and cut on head) during encounter with turbulence during cruise at FL29.

    https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102561

    ReplyDelete