20030828022329A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Pilats PC-6/C-H2 · Vigo Park, TX · August 28, 2003

Date: August 28, 2003 · 16:51 local
Place: Vigo Park, TX
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N394R
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW03LA209
Reported as: Pilats PC6CH2
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 32,165 total700 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N394RRegistration cancelled May 19, 2005 · Pilatus Porter PC-6/C-H2S/N 599 · Built 1966 Airframe modelPilatus Porter PC-6/C-H2 Engine modelAiResearch 331 SER 605HPTurbo-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) On 8/28/2003 at 4:51 p.m., while enroute to pueblo, Colorado, the aircraft experienced clear air turbulence at 12,500 feet while at cruise. The pilot reduced power to the flight idle position and the propeller went to the beta position causing the aircraft to pitch nose down. The pilot was unable to bring the propeller out of beta and elected to depart the aircraft, parachuting to safety in a remote canyon area. He was not injured and the plane struck the ground and was destroyed. The pilot and wreckage were not located until the next morning.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 8/28/2003 AT 4:51 P.M., WHILE ENROUTE TO PUEBLO, COLORADO, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE AT 12,500 FEET WHILE AT CRUISE. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER TO THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION AND THE PROPELLER WENT TO THE BETA POSITION CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH NOSE DOWN. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE PROPELLER OUT OF BETA AND ELECTED TO DEPART THE AIRCRAFT, PARACHUTING TO SAFETY IN A REMOTE CANYON AREA. HE WAS NOT INJURED AND THE PLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT AND WRECKAGE WERE NOT LOCATED UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING.

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 FTW03LA209Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVigo Park, TXThe loss of propeller pitch control for undetermined reasons.Aug 28, 2003 · Destroyed