# NTSB CEN22LA195: Swearingen SA226-T(B), N36LC, Denver, CO, May 6, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 5, 2022, 21:10 local (May 6, 2022, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.565916, -104.84878 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5659&lon=-104.8488&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA195
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105063/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105063
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA195

## Probable cause

The captain’s failure to ensure that the parking brake was correctly released before takeoff, which resulted in seized brakes during landing and a subsequent loss of directional control and runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Swearingen SA226-T(B), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8780406), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Swearingen SA226-T(B), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=8780406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Swearingen SA226-T(B), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=8780406), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Swearingen SA226-T(B), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8780406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The captain reported slower than normal acceleration during the takeoff roll. At 60 to 80 knots, the captain “pushed in the parking brake” handle and continued the takeoff. The crew reported no anomalies on the departure or while en route. While landing at the destination, the airplane swerved right and the captain lost directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear brakes were seized and the right main landing gear tires had flat spots down to the wheel rims, consistent with no tire rotation during landing. No preaccident anomalies were observed with the braking system that would have precluded normal operation. According to the flight manual, proper release of the parking brake required the brake pedals to be depressed while the parking brake handle was pushed fully forward. The parking brake was likely not correctly released before takeoff, which allowed the right brakes to retain pressure and led to the loss of directional control during landing.

## Factual narrative

On May 5, 2022, about 2110 mountain daylight time, a Swearingen SA226-T(B), N36LC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Centennial Airport (APA), Denver, Colorado. The captain and first officer were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. After six passengers disembarked at Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI), Grand Island, Nebraska, the captain and first officer departed from GRI without passengers. During the takeoff roll, the captain reported that the airplane accelerated slower than normal. At 60 to 80 knots, the captain “pushed in the parking brake” handle and continued the takeoff. The crew reported no anomalies on the departure or en route to APA. During the landing at APA, the airplane swerved right, and the captain was not able to maintain directional control. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear brakes were thermally damaged and seized. The right main landing gear tires had flat spots down to the wheel rims, consistent with no tire rotation during the landing. The left main landing gear brakes were not seized and the tires did not have flat spots. No anomalies were observed with the braking system that would have precluded normal operation. According to the flight manual, proper release of the parking brake required brake pedals to be depressed while the parking brake handle was pushed fully forward. If the parking brake handle was pushed forward without the brake pedals depressed, it was possible for the brakes to retain pressure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36LC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36LC-2024-11-23), registration cancelled 2024-11-23, S/N T-387, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA226-T(B)
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226-T(B)](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226-t-b) (registry code 8780406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T-387
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 9025
- Engines: Honeywell TPE331-10U-512 900 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Cloud Peak Aviation, doing business as Mauna Hele
- Registered owner: N360lc Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 27, 2022, 20 hours before
- Departed: GRI, Grand Island, NE
- Destination: APA, Denver, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APA, Centennial Airport, runway 35R, 10,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 88 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2021; seat: right; flight hours: 434 total, 163 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observed at: KAPA
- METAR: KAPA 070253Z 09007KT 10SM FEW110 FEW140 SCT220 14/03 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP991 T01390028 53051 $

## 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 20220506004249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220506004249A), May 6, 2022: Swearingen SA226-T(B), Centennial, CO, Substantial damage. ?N36LC departed central Nebraska regional airport (gri) for Centennial Airport Colorado (apa) on the last leg of a three segment flight day. Aircrew completed…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105063. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14251650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-----_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14438313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14415751&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf
- Flight manual excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14252222&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20manual%20excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of conversations (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14323195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20and%20Operator-Rel.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.

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