# NTSB ATL87FA123: Swearingen SA-226TC, N505LB, Wilmington, NC, April 23, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1987, 19:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place: Wilmington, NC
- Coordinates: 34.269378, -77.960929 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2694&lon=-77.9609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA123

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - turbine assembly,nozzle retention - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - turbine assembly,turbine wheel - burst (contributing factor)
  - electrical system - undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED DURING TAKEOFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROTATION 3000' DOWN THE 7,002' RWY 16. THE PLT CONTINUED THE FLT AND THE LANDING GEAR REMAINED EXTENDED. THE UNAUTHORIZED PLT RATED PAX MADE XMISSIONS TO THE TOWER. WITNESSES RPTED THAT THE ACFT REACHED APPROX. 150' THEN DESCENDED INTO TREES 20 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT OF RWY CENTERLINE AND 3,000' SOUTH OF THE ARPT. THE PRE- 1979 3RD STAGE STATOR ASSY IN THE RIGHT ENGINE DID NOT HAVE THE LATEST MANUFACTURE WELDING PROCESS/INSPECTION AND FAILED CAUSING THE UNCONTAINED TURBINE FAILURE. INSTRUMENTS IN THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT AN UNDETERMINABLE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER OCCURRED AT THE TIME OF ENGINE FAILURE. PERFORMANCE DATA INDICATED THAT A SAFE LANDING COULD HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE REMAINING RWY PAST THE POINT OF ENGINE FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505LB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505LB-1989-08-09), registration cancelled 1989-08-09, S/N TC202 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-226TC
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC202
- Airframe hours: 7667
- Engines: GARRETT TPE 331-3UW 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Air-Lift Associates, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 4, 1987, 50 hours before
- Departed: ILM, WILMINGTON, NC
- Destination: LBT, LUMBERTON, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ILM, New Hanover, runway 16, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,160 total, 1,860 in this make and model, 5,460 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ILM, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870423010919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870423010919A), Apr 23, 1987: Swrngn SA226TC, Wilmington, NC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Right engine blew up on initial climb. Pilot did not raise gear or feather. Crashed into trees. Stator weld broke.

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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