# Accident 19970105000149A: Swrngn SA227AC, Bullhead City, AZ, January 5, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 5, 1997, 12:43 local time
- Place: Bullhead City, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: F4GA
- Location: 35.1478° N, 114.5683° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bullhead City, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1478&lon=-114.5683&mi=10
- Aircraft: N165SW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N165SW-2000-03-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Swearingen SA227-AC (registry code 8780603, https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa227-ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWRNGN SA227AC
- Reported engine: GARRTT TPE33111U
- People aboard: 19
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,200 total, 300 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA082) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970105000149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT MADE EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER A DOUBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (.19) ON JANUARY 5, 1997, AT 1243 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A FAIRCHILD SA-227-AC, N165SW, SERIAL NO. AC-514, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN ABOUT 1.5 MILES SOUTH OF THE BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA, AIRPORT FOLLOWING THE NEAR SIMULTANEOUS FLAME OUT OF BOTH ENGINES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY FNG AVIATION, D.B.A. SKYLINK CHARTERS OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, AS AN ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT UNDER 14 CFR PART 135.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE GROUND COLLISION SEQUENCE.  THE TWO PILOTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE 19 PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE DEPARTURE POINT, AND A VFR/IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AT 0900 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME AS A NON-STOP FLIGHT TO THE GRAND CANYON IN ARIZONA.  INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE GRAND CANYON AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR A LOCALIZER INSTRUMENT APPROACH.  THE WEATHER WAS BELOW LANDING MINIMUMS AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH.  HE THEN DIVERTED TO THE COMPANY DESIGNATED ALTERNATE AIRPORT AT BULLHEAD CITY. (.4) AFTER EXECUTING A MISSED APPROACH AT THE GRAND CA NYON AIRPORT, THE PILOTS DIVERTED TO THE BULLHEAD CITY AIRPORT. THE PILOTS REPORTED THAT MINIMAL ICING CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED WITH ABOUT 1/8 INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATING ON THE AIRCRAFT WINGS. THE PILOTS STATED THEY CYCLED THE DEICE BOOTS TO SHED ICE. THEY DID NOT OBSERVE ICE ON THE PROPELLER SPINNERS, AND THEY DID NOT ACTIVATE THE ENGINES' 'OVERRIDE' IGNITION SYSTEMS, AS REQUIRED BY THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT MANUAL. USE OF 'OVERRIDE' IGNITION WAS REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT INTO VISIBLE MOISTURE AT OR BELOW +5 DEGREES CELSIUS (+41 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) TO PREVENT ICE INGESTION/FLAMEOUTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, BOTH ENGINES FLAMED OUT AS THE AIRPLANE WAS ON ABOUT A 3 MILE FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING WITH THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS EXTENDED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA082), Jan 5, 1997: Fairchild SA227-AC (N165SW), Bullhead City, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: failure of the pilot(s) to use 'override' ignition as prescribed by checklist procedures during an encounter with icing conditions, which subsequently led to ice ingestion and dual engine flame-outs.…

## Other reports on N165SW (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19870730046571I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870730046571I), Jul 30, 1987: Swrngn SA227AC (N165SW), Los Angeles, CA, Minor damage. During turn into gate the rudder struck wing panel and ailron of N113DA. Safety person did not notify PIC in time.
- [Accident 19870110001199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870110001199A), Jan 10, 1987: Swrngn SA227AC (N165SW), Yuma, AZ, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear collapsed shortly after touchdown. Veered off runway. Passengers upset by poor rescue efforts

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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