# NTSB BFO91LA011: Fairchild SA227-AC, N445AC, Covington, KY, November 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1990, 22:23 local (Nov 9, 1990, 03:23 UTC)
- Place: Covington, KY
- Coordinates: 39.110458, -84.419891 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1105&lon=-84.4199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11642
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11642/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA011

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. CHECKRIDE-INDUCED PRESSURE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CHECK PILOT WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear not extended, landing
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, check pilot (contributing factor)
  - inattentive, check pilot (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not performed, pilot in command
  - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT, A COMPANY CHECK AIRMAN, AND AN FAA INSPECTOR WERE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT FOR A CHECKRIDE WHICH WAS INTENDED TO REASSESS THE PILOT'S COMPETENCY. A MAINTENANCE TEST (AILERON RIGGING) WAS TO BE PERFORMED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHECK RIDE. THE FIRST MANEUVER TO BE PERFORMED WAS A NO-FLAP LANDING. ALL THREE PILOTS STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY MANAGING THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN; AIRSPEEDS WERE TOO SLOW, AND THE PILOT WAS CONSTANTLY MANIPULATING POWER. THE PILOT NEVER CALLED FOR THE BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST, AND THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY WITH THE LANDING GEAR UP. THE CHECK PILOT STATED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WARNING HORN CAME ON BRIEFLY, BUT THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND SILENCED THE HORN. THE FAA INSPECTOR WAS SEATED IN A PASSENGER SEAT FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING, AND WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT EXTENDED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N445AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N445AC-1992-06-12), registration cancelled 1992-06-12, S/N AC445 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227-AC
- Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-ac) (registry code 3377509) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 445
- Airframe hours: 15616
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Comair, Inc.
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co. Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 8, 1990
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CVG, Greater Cinncinnati Int'L, runway 9R, 7,800 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,918 total, 1,019 in this make and model, 3,743 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CVG

## 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 19901108065049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901108065049A), Nov 8, 1990: Swrngn SA227AC, Covington - Cin, OH, Substantial damage. During check ride landed gear up.

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.

---
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.