# NTSB BFO89LA013: Swearingen SA-226T, N263CM, Washington, DC, November 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 30, 1988, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Location: 38.9475° N, 77.4599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WASHINGTON DULLES INTL (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9475&lon=-77.4599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11487
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11487/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA013

## Probable cause

PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS FLYING AN AUTOPILOT COUPLED ILS APCH WHEN THE YAW DAMPER & AUTOPILOT DISENGAGED. AFTER SOME DIFFICULTY, THE PLT WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE AUTOPILOT ENGAGED. HE SAID HE DISENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT ON FINAL APCH AT AN ALT OF APRX 250' AGL. HE LOWERED FULL FLAPS & SLOWED THE ACFT TO 107 KTS. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN & TRAVELED APRX 1000', ITS NOSE BEGAN TO RISE & OSCILLATE. HE ABORTED THE LNDG, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO GET AN UP & LOCKED INDICATION FOR THE NOSE GEAR, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD LOCK DOWN. AFTER MAKING A FLY-BY TO VERIFY THE GEAR POSITION, HE MADE A 'SLOW' LNDG. THE PLT RPRTD THAT ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT OSCILLATION WAS NOTED DRG THE LNDG, HE FORCEFULLY HELD THE NOSE DOWN AS HE SLOWED THE ACFT. TESTING & EVALUATION OF THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY DISCREPANCY WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE OSCILLATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N263CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N263CM-2010-05-26), registration cancelled 2010-05-26, S/N T223, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-226T
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA-226T](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-226t) (registry code 8780122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch 331SER 705HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-331ser-705hp) (registry code 01506, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T223
- Airframe hours: 4978
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John T. Rocca
- Registered owner: John T Rocca
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 18, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: W83, ASHLAND, VA
- Destination: W09, LEESBURG, VA
- Airport: IAD, Dulles Intl, runway 19L, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,100 total, 155 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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).

- [Incident 19881130056529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881130056529I), Nov 30, 1988: Swrngn SA226T, Washington, DC, Minor damage. Nose pitched up on rollout. Applied forward pressure and plane oscillated. Made go around and landed. Damaged prop.

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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