# Accident 20010801023399A: Mtsbsi MU2B35, Hiltonhead, SC, August 1, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2001, 07:51 local time
- Place: Hiltonhead, SC
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: BKAA
- Location: 32.1647° N, 80.7336° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1647&lon=-80.7336&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1VY, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1VY-2002-01-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 (registry code 5780411, https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: AiResearch TPE331-5&6SER (registry code 01515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-5-6ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MTSBSI MU2B35
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA01FA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01FA206) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010801023399A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THIS INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE CENTER WING FLAP TORQUE TUBE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY WHICH RESULTED IN A SPLIT FLAP CONFIGURATION THAT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. (.19)ON AUGUST 1, 2001, ABOUT 0751 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A MITSUBISHI, MU-2B-35, N1VY, REGISTERED TO, AND OPERATED BY BANKAIR INC., AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 POSITIONING FLIGHT, CRASHED IN HILTON HEAD, SOUTH CAROLINA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 0741. AN OFFICIAL WITH BANKAIR INC. STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD JUST FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, AS BANKAIR FLIGHT 170, A TITLE 14 CFR PART 135 FLIGHT, AND HAD DROPPED OFF HIS CARGO. THE BANKAIR OFFICIAL FURTHER STATED THAT THE PILOT WAS POSITIONING THE AIRCRAFT TO HILTON HEAD TO PICK UP ADDITIONAL CARGO, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AN FAA CONTROLLER SAID THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FROM SAVANNAH, TO HILTON                                                 HEAD, HAD REPORTED THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT, AND HAD BEEN GIVEN APPROVAL TO MAKE A FREQUENCY CHANGE, AND TOLD TO SQUAWK 1200. ACCORDING TO A PERSON AT THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT WHO WAS MONITORING THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE CALLED ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, AND ASKED FOR A TRAFFIC ADVISORY, AND HE HAD RESPONDED TO THE PILOT SAYING THAT TRAFFIC WAS LANDING AND DEPARTING FROM RUNWAY 3. THE WITNESS FURTHER STATED THAT THE PILOT RESPONDED SAYING, " THANK YOU, TRAFFIC LANDING AND DEPARTING RUNWAY 3", AND THAT WAS THE ONLY COMMUNICATION HE HAD WITH THE PILOT. OTHER WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT IN A RIGHT WING DOWN, NOSE LOW FLIGHT ATTITUDE AS IT IMPACTED TREES, AND CAME TO REST ON A GOLF COURSE IN THE LEAMINGTON SECTION OF THE PALMETTO DUNES PLANTATION. DURING THE IMPACT, A POSTCRASH FIRE ENSUED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 MIA01FA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01FA206), Aug 1, 2001: Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 (N1VY), Hilton Head, SC, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Improper maintenance/installation and and inadequate inspection of the airplane's flap torque tube joints during routine maintenance by company maintenance personnel, which resulted in the right flap…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.