What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During the preflight inspection the PIC elected to check the cold oil level via the dipstick on each engine, contrary to the POH which states to check it hot. PIC is too short to reach the oil doors on top of the engine nacelles. PIC used engine cowling/inspection doors on each engine to inspect oil level. PIC found dipsticks on both engines dry and requested 1 quart of oil be added to each engine. PIC left engine inspection doors open for the line service personnel. Line service personnel added the oil as requested via the oil doors on top of the nacelles. Oil doors and caps were secured, however engine inspection doors on both engines remained open.
PIC left aircraft upon completion of preflight. Upon return to the aircraft for departure, PIC did not complete a walk-around inspection. PIC entered the aircraft without notice of the open engine doors. Doors remained open during engine starts and taxi, despite both PIC and SIC attention to visually clear prop and taxi areas.
Aircraft departed runway 32 with the doors open. At approximately 200 feet AGL and 120 knots IAS the inspection doors on each engine separated from the aircraft. The right engine inspection door was not recovered. The left engine inspection door impacted and became lodged in the horizontal stabilizer. The PIC reported controllability issues about the vertical axis.
The pic/sic advised the local controller of their intent to return to runway 32 but did not declare an emergency. ATC declared emergency on behalf of the crew. Aircraft maintained airspeed and configuration throughout the return to field. Aircraft made a normal landing and taxied to FBO. Airport was advised to conduct a FOD check on active runways. Substantial damage was noted on each engine nacelle and the horizontal stabilizer.
As the FAA filed it
DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PIC ELECTED TO CHECK THE COLD OIL LEVEL VIA THE DIPSTICK ON EACH ENGINE, CONTRARY TO THE POH WHICH STATES TO CHECK IT HOT. PIC IS TOO SHORT TO REACH THE OIL DOORS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE NACELLES. PIC USED ENGINE COWLING/INSPECTION DOORS ON EACH ENGINE TO INSPECT OIL LEVEL. PIC FOUND DIPSTICKS ON BOTH ENGINES DRY AND REQUESTED 1 QUART OF OIL BE ADDED TO EACH ENGINE. PIC LEFT ENGINE INSPECTION DOORS OPEN FOR THE LINE SERVICE PERSONNEL. LINE SERVICE PERSONNEL ADDED THE OIL AS REQUESTED VIA THE OIL DOORS ON TOP OF THE NACELLES. OIL DOORS AND CAPS WERE SECURED, HOWEVER ENGINE INSPECTION DOORS ON BOTH ENGINES REMAINED OPEN.
PIC LEFT AIRCRAFT UPON COMPLETION OF PREFLIGHT. UPON RETURN TO THE AIRCRAFT FOR DEPARTURE, PIC DID NOT COMPLETE A WALK-AROUND INSPECTION. PIC ENTERED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT NOTICE OF THE OPEN ENGINE DOORS. DOORS REMAINED OPEN DURING ENGINE STARTS AND TAXI, DESPITE BOTH PIC AND SIC ATTENTION TO VISUALLY CLEAR PROP AND TAXI AREAS.
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 32 WITH THE DOORS OPEN. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL AND 120 KNOTS IAS THE INSPECTION DOORS ON EACH ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT ENGINE INSPECTION DOOR WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE LEFT ENGINE INSPECTION DOOR IMPACTED AND BECAME LODGED IN THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE PIC REPORTED CONTROLLABILITY ISSUES ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS.
THE PIC/SIC ADVISED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER OF THEIR INTENT TO RETURN TO RUNWAY 32 BUT DID NOT DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. ATC DECLARED EMERGENCY ON BEHALF OF THE CREW. AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED AIRSPEED AND CONFIGURATION THROUGHOUT THE RETURN TO FIELD. AIRCRAFT MADE A NORMAL LANDING AND TAXIED TO FBO. AIRPORT WAS ADVISED TO CONDUCT A FOD CHECK ON ACTIVE RUNWAYS. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON EACH ENGINE NACELLE AND THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
Other reports on N350TF · 1
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