# NTSB CEN13LA421: Cessna 208B, N732MD, Chicago, IL, July 17, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2013, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.981388, -87.906669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9814&lon=-87.9067&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 11 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 87520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA421 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA421 ## Probable cause The gate agent’s premature removal of the tailstand without confirming with the flight crew that it was safe to remove, which allowed the airplane to tilt backward when a passenger stood up and stepped toward the back of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md) ## Analysis After the airplane was boarded, the gate agent removed the tailstand from the airplane without communicating with the flight crew. A passenger in row 3 then stood up to hand a carry-on bag to the second-in-command, who was standing in the doorway, for stowage in the cargo compartment. As the passenger stood up and stepped toward the back of the airplane, the airplane tilted backward, and its tail struck the tarmac, which resulted in substantial damage. The gate agent's premature removal of the tailstand allowed the airplane to tilt backward when the passenger stood up and stepped toward the back of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2013, about 0800 central daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N732MD, was substantially damaged on the ramp at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. The pilot in command, second in command, and nine passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Multi-Aero Inc., doing business as Air Choice One under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a scheduled domestic passenger flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.The Director of Operations at Air Choice One reported that the pilot in command and 9 passengers were on board the airplane, and the second in command was outside on the right side of the airplane; adjacent to the passenger door and ventral stairs. A passenger in the last row of the airplane asked the second in command to assist her with her seatbelt, at which time the second in command climbed up the stairs into the airplane. At the same time, the gate agent removed the tail stand from the airplane, without communicating with the flight crew. A passenger in row 3 then stood up to hand a carry-on bag to the second in command so that it could be stowed in the cargo compartment. As the passenger stood up and stepped towards the back of the airplane, the airplane titled backwards and the tail struck the tarmac. The pilot in command ensured that everyone was okay and then asked passengers to move forward in the airplane in an effort to bring the nose of the airplane back down. The pilot in command, second in command, and passengers disembarked from the airplane without further incident. An examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the bulkhead in the tail section of the airplane. An examination of the airplane and remaining systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N732MD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N732MD), registered now, S/N 208B1083, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B1083 - Airframe hours: 10473 - Engines: P&W PT6-114A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Multi-Aero Inc, doing business as Air Choice One - Registered owner: Multi-Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 1, 2013 - Departed: KORD, Chicago, IL - Destination: KBRL, Burlington, IA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KORD, Chicago O'Hare International A - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 9, 2013; seat: left; restraint: none; flight hours: 4,550 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 4,218 as pilot in command, 242 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2013; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 2,530 total, 1,171 in this make and model, 1,522 as pilot in command, 182 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KORD ## 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 20130717020109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130717020109A), Jul 17, 2013: Cessna 208B, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. On July 17, 2013 at approximately 08:00, a Cessna caravan 208B, registration number N732MD, experienced aircraft substantial damage when the tail stand was… ## Other investigations on N732MD (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 CEN16LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA052), Nov 3, 2015: Cessna 208B (N732MD), Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the driver of the service vehicle to yield to the taxiing airplane, which resulted in a near-collision and tail strike. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87520. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411211&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Flight and Ground Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20and%20Ground%20Crew%20Statements-Redacted.PDF 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.