# Accident 20020929028309A: Swrngn SA227AC, Hawthorne, CA, September 29, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 2002, 09:13 local time
- Place: Hawthorne, CA
- Airport: Hawthorne Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: C9UA
- Location: 33.9225° N, 118.3314° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9225&lon=-118.3314&mi=10
- Aircraft: N343AE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N343AE-2015-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Swearingen SA227-AC (registry code 8780603, https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa227-ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWRNGN SA227AC
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02FA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA300) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020929028309A

## Narrative

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

(-23) INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT AFTER NOSE WHEEL STEERING WAS DISENGAGED. THE LEFT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS FOUND TO BE ON THE START LOCK AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS NOT ON THE START LOCKS AND APPEARED TO BE IN REVERSE PITCH WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE POSITION OF THE COCKPIT CONTROLS. THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING ACTUATOR WAS FOUND WITH THE RIGHT HYDRAULIC LINE SEPARATED FROM THE END CAP. THIS WAS DETERMINED TO BE CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH THE ACTUATOR PISTON WHICH OVERTRAVELLED WHEN THE NOSE GEAR IMPACTED A RUNWAY SIGN AFTER THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY SURFACE. MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOW NO PREVIOUS OR CURRENT DISCREPENCIES FOR THE PROPELLERS OR ANY COMPONENT IN THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM. (-23 AMENDMENT) AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A CONCLUSION CANNOT BE MADE, THAT THE LEFT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS ON THE START LOCK WHEN TAKEOFF WAS COMMENCED, OR THAT A NOSE WHEEL STEERING MALFUNCTION WAS NOT PRESENT.

## 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 LAX02FA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA300), Sep 29, 2002: Fairchild SA227-AC (N343AE), Hawthorne, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control during the rejected takeoff. The loss of directional control was caused by the crew's failure to follow prescribed pretakeoff and…

## Other reports on N343AE (2)

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

- [Incident 19950216004269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950216004269I), Feb 16, 1995: Swrngn SA227AC (N343AE), Hot Springs, AR. Narrative: history of flight: on February 16, 1995, at 1402 CST, a fairchild SA227-AC,N343AE, registered to mcc aircraft leasing I, inc., of mclean, VA and…
- [Incident 19890622038019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890622038019I), Jun 22, 1989: Swrngn SA227AC (N343AE), Fresno, CA. Aircraft made a hard right turn on rollout. Stopped off runway. Nose wheel steering had malfunctioned.

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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