# Accident 20180920016379A: Embraer EMB-120ER, Houston, TX, September 20, 2018 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 20, 2018, 12:00 local time - Place: Houston, TX - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: HKGA - Location: 29.0344° N, 95.4464° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0344&lon=-95.4464&mi=10 - Aircraft: N233SW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N233SW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Embraer EMB-120ER (registry code 3260203, https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-120er) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118 (registry code 52116, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw118) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMBRAER EMB-120ER - Reported engine: P&W CANADA PW118 - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 2,627 total, 1,974 in this make and model, 206 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA18CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA303) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180920016379A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AIRCRAFT WITH FOUR CONTAINERS OF CARGO DEPARTED HOUSTON AIRPORT (KSHV) ENROUTE TO MEXICO AIRPORT (MMQT). JUST OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A STORM CELL ALONG WITH A BRIEF MOMENT OF TURBULANCE. THE TURBULANCE CAUSED CARGO STORED IN THE #3 COMPARTMENT OF THE AIRCRAFT TO SLAM INTO THE CROWN AREA OF THE FUSELAGE DAMAGING INTERIOR PANELS. AFTER FLYING TWO ADDITIONAL SORTIES, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED BACK AT ITS HOME BASE SAN MARCOS, TEXAS. IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED BY MAINTENANCE CREW AT BERRY AVIATION THERE HAD BEEN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO FOUR INTERIOR FUSELAGE RIBS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED TWO CAUSAL FACTORS IN THE AIRCRAFT FLYING WITH STRUCTUAL DAMAGE. FIRST, THE CREW FAILED TO SECURE THE CARGO IN THE AIRCRAFT. NO STRAPS OR NETTING WERE USED TO TIE DOWN THE CARGO, INSTEAD THE CREW RELIED ONLY ON COMPARTMENT SIDE NETTING. SECOND, DESPITE REPORTING THE VISABLE DAMAGE TO COMPANY MAINTENANCE CONTROL, THE CREW FAILED TO DOCUMENT THE VISABLE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT UPON COMPLETION OF THE SORTIE IN WHICH THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED. INSTEAD THE CREW WAITED UNTIL LANDING THE NEXT DAY AFTER TWO SORTIES WERE FLOWN. OTHER ISSUES NOTED WERE THE CREW FAILED TO FILE AN INCIDENT AND HAZARD DEFICIENCY REPORT DOCUMENTING THE INTERIOR DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE AIRCRAFT. INVESTIGATION SHOWS THE CREW FAILED TO FOLLOW COMPANY PROCEDURES AS OUTLINED IN THE COMPANY GENERAL OPERATING MANUAL. IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE IIC THAT THE CREW BE ADMINISTERED REMEDIAL TRAINING TO INCLUDE AREAS IN CARGO RESTRAINT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. ## 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 DCA18CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA303), Sep 20, 2018: Embraer EMB120 (N233SW), 40 nm vicinity south of Lake Jackson, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: an encounter with severe turbulence, which caused the improperly secured cargo to shift and damage the airplane floor structure. ## Other reports on N233SW (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20210307000279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210307000279I), Mar 7, 2021: Embraer EMB-120ER (N233SW), Ypsilanti, MI, Minor damage. Crew experienced failure of the emergency bus 2, on climb out. Declared an emergency and returned to airfield. Crew performed EAP-30, "emergency bus off light"… - [Incident 20201112021999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201112021999I), Nov 12, 2020: Embraer EMB-120ER (N233SW), Oklahoma City, OK, Minor damage. Aircraft was on 3 mile final into okc. Struck bird(s) but landed with no incident and emergency was not declared. Damage reported to radome and other fuselage… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.