# NTSB ATL84IA134: Beech C90, N66KA, Herndon, VA, March 29, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1984, 20:30 local (Mar 29, 1984, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Herndon, VA
- Location: 38.9704° N, 77.3871° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Herndon, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9704&lon=-77.3871&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6348
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84IA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6348/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84IA134

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - airspeed - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flt control syst,elevator trim/tab control - failure,total
  - flt control syst,elevator trim/tab control - jammed
  - electrical system - shorted

## Analysis

THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED DIVE AT ABOUT 11,000 FT MSL, WITH RECOVERY MADE BELOW 2,000 FT MSL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DURING THE DESCENT, IN ORDER TO ACCOMODATE OTHER AIR TRAFFIC, THE PLT EXCEEDED VNE SPEEDS. SHORTLY, THEREAFTER THE ELEVATOR TRIM SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED & JAMMED THE TRIM IN THE FULL NOSE DOWN TRIM POSITION. WHEN A BRIEF FLARE-UP OF SMOKE & SPARKS ERUPTED UNDER THE RT INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE LT SIDE OF THE CONTROL COLUMN THE PLT DELAYED AN EMERGENCY BUT DID NOT RELAY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CONTROL PROBLEM. POST INCIDENT EXAMINATION FOUND THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB CABLE BROKEN AT THE TRIM SERVO, LOCATED UNDER THE AFT CABIN FLOOR JUST FORWARD OF THE CABIN ENTRANCE DOOR. FRAYED IN AN IRREGULAR MANNER OVER A NINE INCH AREA, THE LOOSE CABLES BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE ELECTRICAL POWER DIODES LOCATED BENEATH THE CONTROL PEDESTAL. INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRICTION CLUTCH OPERATED AT TOO HIGH TORQUE & THE CABLES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING HEAT TO OTHER COMPONENTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66KA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66KA), registered now, S/N LJ-582 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C90
- Registry model: [Beech C90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c90) (registry code 1152913) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ-582
- Airframe hours: 3900
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dominion Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 29, 1984, 5 hours before
- Departed: ROA, ROANOKE, VA
- Destination: IAD
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 94,004 total, 4,900 in this make and model, 7,650 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 50° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD

## Other investigations on N66KA (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 ATL85LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA076), Jan 6, 1985: Beech C90 (N66KA), Winston Salem, NC, substantial damage

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.

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