# Accident 20041130031359A: Hamflu HFB320, St Louis, MO, November 30, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 30, 2004, 19:56 local time
- Place: St Louis, MO
- Airport: Spirit Of St Louis Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6644° N, 90.7025° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6644&lon=-90.7025&mi=10
- Aircraft: N604GA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N604GA-2007-02-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hamburger Flugzeugbau HFB 320 HANSA (registry code 4071204, https://openairdocs.org/model/hamburger-flugzeugbau-hfb-320-hansa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE CJ610-5&6 (registry code 30013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cj610-5-6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HAMFLU HFB320
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 11,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 103 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI05FA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05FA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041130031359A

## Narrative

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

(-23) APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, N604GA REJECTED A TAKE-OFF ATTEMPT DUE TO LACK OF AIRSPEED INDICATION ON BOTH THE PIC AND SIC AIRSPEED INDICATORS. THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED TO MIDCOAST AVIATION, A MECHANIC "BLEW OUT" OBSTRUCTIONS IN BOTH PILOT/STATIC LINES, HAVING GAINED ACCESS TO LINES IN THE COCKPIT. THE LINES WERE REATTACHED (NO STATIC TESTS ACCOMPLISHED). THE MIDCOAST MECHANIC THEN SIGNED THE FERRY PERMIT "OK FOR ONE TIME FERRY FLIGHT". N604GA TAXIED OUT, ACCOMPLISHED A HIGH SPEED TAXI (TOWARD THE EAST ON RUNWAY 8R), TURNED AROUND AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 26L AND AFTER ATC CLEARANCE TOOK-OFF (UNDER A FERRY PERMIT AUTHORIZATION) ON AN IFR FLIGHT. THE FERRY PERMIT CONTAINED SEVERAL LIMITATIONS, THE FOLLOWING LIST WERE DISREGARDED BY THE PIC: #6. IFR IN VMC CONDITIONS...PROVIDED ALL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR IFR FLIGHT IS OPERATIONAL AND CERTIFIED...#11. THE PIC...SHALL NOTIFY ATC OF THE NON-STANDARD NATURE OF THE AIRCRAFT...#A. COMPASS SWING, FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF AVIONICS EQUIPMENT MUST BE PERFORMED. N604GA DEPARTED SUS, DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR CONTACT, WITH NO FURTHER RADIO CONTACT. N604GA CRASHED INTO HOWELL ISLAND 2.2 MILES WEST OF SUS. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF N604GA AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 2004 MAINTENANCE ACCOMPLISHED BY MIDCOAST AVIATION ON AD 2004-01-11. FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION SUPPORTS THAT DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF ELEVATOR TRIM CABLES TO COMPLY WITH AD 2004-01-11, THE CABLES WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, RESULTING IN THE COCKPIT TRIM FUNCTIONS FOR ELEVATOR TRIM RUNNING OPPOSITE FROM NORMAL. END OF REPORT.

## 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 CHI05FA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05FA038), Dec 1, 2004: Hamburger Flugzeugbau HFB 320 Hansa (N604GA), Chesterfield, MO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The maintenance facility failed to properly install and inspect the elevator trim system resulting in the reversed elevator trim condition and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the…

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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