# NTSB CHI82DA064: Fairchild Hiller 227C, N378NE, Bloomington, IN, February 21, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1982, 13:14 local (18:14 UTC)
- Place: Bloomington, IN
- Location: 39.1460° N, 86.6167° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MONROE COUNTY (BMG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1460&lon=-86.6167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 21, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA064

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - lowering of flaps - selected, pilot in command
  - lowering of flaps - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING PRE-POSITIONED FOR A SCHEDULED FLIGHT. DURING A VISUAL APPROACH TO LAND, THE CAPTAIN (PIC) CALLED FOR THE FLAPS TO BE LOWERED IN INCREMENTAL SETTINGS (16.5, 27 & 40 DEG). THE FLAP HANDLE WAS MOVED TO THE APPROPRIATE POSITIONS, BUT REPORTEDLY, NEITHER OF THE PILOTS LOOKED AT THE FLAP INDICATOR. THE PIC STATED THAT DURING THE FLARE, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND CONTACTED THE RUNWAY QUITE HARD. HE IMMEDIATELY LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE FLAP INDICATOR AT 16.5 DEG, THEN NOTICED THE FLAPS HAD EXTENDED TO 40 DEG. THE COPILOT SAW THE FLAPS AT 30 DEG AND MOVING TO FULL DOWN. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE FUSELAGE WAS DAMAGED AROUND THE TAIL BUMPER/SKID TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PRESSURE BULKHEAD. ON A SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT FOR REPAIR, THE FLAPS OVER-RAN THE UP-LIMIT MICROSWITCH AND THEN WOULD NOT EXTEND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MODEL FPC-75 GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH STC SA1176CE AND WAS WIRED INTO THE FLAP SELECTOR SWITCH. IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A WARNING IF IT HAD DETECTED FLAP PSN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N378NE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N378NE-1991-07-05), registration cancelled 1991-07-05, S/N 512 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Fairchild Hiller 227C
- Registry model: [Fairchild FH-227](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-fh-227) (registry code 3373042) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 512
- Airframe hours: 18611
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE 532-7 2280 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Britt Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Britt Airways, Inc.
- Departed: BLOOMINGTON, IL
- Destination: BLOOMINGTON, IN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: BMG, Monroe County, runway 35, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 14,775 total, 69 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19820221006339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820221006339A), Feb 21, 1982: Frchld FH227, Bloomington, IN, Substantial damage. Hard landing because flaps did not extend to full down position. Pilots did not realize flap position until too late

## Other investigations on N378NE (2)

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 NYC75AN119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC75AN119), Jun 13, 1975: Fairchild FH-227 (N378NE), New Bedford, MA, substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC70I0062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70I0062), Dec 11, 1969: Fairchild FH-227 (N378NE), Windsor Lock, CT, incident, minor damage

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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