# NTSB ATL90FA099: Airship Industries Airship 600, N602SK, Creswell, NC, April 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1990, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Creswell, NC
- Coordinates: 35.869003, -76.390182 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8690&lon=-76.3902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8123
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90FA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8123/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90FA099

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION UNITS AS THE AIRSHIP TRAVERSED THE DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA BEAM OF A HIGH INTENSITY RADIATED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD (HIRF).  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND AND THE LACK OF HIRF CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR AIRSHIPS AT THE TIME OF FAA CERTIFICATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - all engines
  - ignition system - disabled (cause)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,aircraft, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT 700 FT ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRSHIP HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRSHIP COLLIDED WITH TREES & THE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING IN 20 KT WINDS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRSHIP HAD TRAVERSED THE BEAM OF A HIGHLY DIRECTIONAL RADIO FREQUENCY BROADCAST FROM A VOICE OF AMERICA ANTENNA. THE SIGNAL RADIATING FROM THE ANTENNA HAD BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO DAMAGE ELECTRONIC IGNITION CONTROL UNITS OF THE SAME TYPE USED ON THE AIRSHIP ENGINES. SUBSEQUENT TESTS OF THE FAILED IGNITION UNITS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE MODE IN THIS ACCIDENT REPLICATED THE FAILURES OF THE PREVIOUSLY TESTED IGNITION UNITS. AT THE TIME OF CERTIFICATION, AIRSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR HIRF (HIGH INTNESITY RADIATED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS) TESTING HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N602SK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N602SK-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 1215/07 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRSHIP INDUSTRIES AIRSHIP 600 (AIRSHIP 60)
- Registry model: [Airship Industries UK AIRSHIP 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/airship-industries-uk-airship-600) (registry code 3850101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Porsche 930-67](https://openairdocs.org/engine/porsche-930-67) (registry code 51003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Blimp
- Serial number: 1215/07
- Airframe hours: 2348
- Engines: PORSCHE 930/67/A1/3 255 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Airship Industries
- Registered owner: Orix Commercial Credit, Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 12, 1990, 7 hours before
- Departed: ECG, ELIZABETH CITY, NC
- Destination: FLO, FLORENCE, SC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 410 in this make and model, 2,050 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900415013279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900415013279A), Apr 15, 1990: Airshp AIRSHIP600, Creswall, NC, Substantial damage. Both engines failed en route. Drifting, struck trees. Damaged landing in high wind. Ignition control units failed.

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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