# NTSB CHI85IA084: Swearingen SA-227-AC, N3110J, Covington, KY, January 8, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 8, 1985, 08:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Covington, KY
- Coordinates: 38.669422, -85.160324 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6694&lon=-85.1603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 13 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85IA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12907/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85IA084

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - ignition system,ignition switch - other
  - acft/equip,inadequate standard/requirement, manufacturer
  - safety system(other) - not engaged
  - emergency equipment - not used, pilot in command
  - procedure inadequate, manufacturer (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate aircraft manuals, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - ignition system - not engaged
  - propeller system/accessories,spinner - ice (cause)
  - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - propeller system/accessories,spinner - ice
  - aircraft performance,two or more engines - inoperative
- Forced landing, landing

## Analysis

THE AIRCREW REPORTED THAT DURING FLT AT 6000 FT MSL, THEY ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS & USED THE DE-ICE & ANTI-ICE EQUIPMENT. AFTER THEY DESCENDED & WERE CLEAR OF ICING, THEY DEACTIVATED THE DE-ICE & ANTI-ICE EQUIPMENT.THE CAPT SAID HECHECKED THE PROP SPINNERS & NOTED A SMALL BUILDUP OF ICE, WHICH HE CONSIDERED AS MINIMAL, & TURNED OFF THE CONTINUOUS IGNITION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WHILE ON FINAL APCH AT APRX 1000 FT AGL & 1 TO 1.5 MI FROM THE ARPT, THE R ENG LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE COPLT FEATHERED THE R PROP & THE APCH WAS CONTINUED. HOWEVER, AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL THE OTHER ENG ALSO LOST POWER. THE ACFT WAS LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, ICE WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND UNDER THE WINGS. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR FUEL CONTAMINATION WERE FND. THE ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF FLAMEOUTS DUE TO ICE BUILDUP & RELEASE FROM THE SPINNERS. IGNITION SW LABELED 'NORM', 'CONT' & 'OVRD.' TO OBTAIN CONTINUOUS IGNITION IN FLT, THE SWITCH MUST HAVE BEEN IN 'OVRD.' NO SPECIFIC WARNING IN FLT MANUAL TO USE CONTINUOUS IGNITION (OVRD) IN ICING COND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3110J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-227-AC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC535
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE-331-11U 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Comair
- Registered owner: First Security Bank Of Utah
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LEX, LEXINGTON, KY
- Destination: CVG, CINCINNATI, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CVG, Greater Cincinnati, runway 27L, 7,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 565 in this make and model, 2,663 as pilot in command, 189 in the last 90 days, 74 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °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).

- [Incident 19850108019169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850108019169I), Jan 8, 1985: Swrngn SA227AC, Erlanger, KY, Minor damage. Both engines quit on final approach, safe landing made. Suspect engine icing. Change of procedure issued by factory

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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