20020619016809A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Dhav DHC-6-300 · Ketchikan, AK · June 19, 2002

Date: June 19, 2002 · 16:00 local
Place: Ketchikan, AK
Airport: Ketchikan Harbor Spb
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: PJMA
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N353PM
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC02LA053
Reported as: Dhav DHC6300

N353PMRegistration cancelled May 25, 2006 · Dehavilland DHC-6-300S/N 351 · Built 1973 Airframe modelDehavilland DHC-6-300 Engine modelPratt & Whitney PT6A seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) N353PM was tied to the dock behind N235SA. Both aircraft were loaded with passengers, preparing for a flightseeing tour. N353PM'S engines were running. The pilot signalled the ground person to disconnect the aux. Power cable. The ground person disconnected the aux. Power cable, and mistakenly untied the aircraft also. The N353PM surged ahead and struck N235SA in the rudder and elevators, causing substantial damage with the props. The pilot had not given the signal to untie the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) N353PM WAS TIED TO THE DOCK BEHIND N235SA. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE LOADED WITH PASSENGERS, PREPARING FOR A FLIGHTSEEING TOUR. N353PM'S ENGINES WERE RUNNING. THE PILOT SIGNALLED THE GROUND PERSON TO DISCONNECT THE AUX. POWER CABLE. THE GROUND PERSON DISCONNECTED THE AUX. POWER CABLE, AND MISTAKENLY UNTIED THE AIRCRAFT ALSO. THE N353PM SURGED AHEAD AND STRUCK N235SA IN THE RUDDER AND ELEVATORS, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH THE PROPS. THE PILOT HAD NOT GIVEN THE SIGNAL TO UNTIE THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC02LA053Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKetchikan, AKThe failure of a ground handler to follow company proceedure/directives, and his premature release of a mooring line. Factors associated with the accident were the congested operations area, and the operator's failure to provide adequate safe zones for the…Jun 20, 2002 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage