# NTSB CHI85LA151: de Havilland DHC-6-200, N3434, Grand Rapids, MI, April 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1985, 06:33 local (11:33 UTC)
- Place: Grand Rapids, MI
- Coordinates: 42.869373, -85.619178 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8694&lon=-85.6192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13035/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA151

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - throttle/power control - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE 14 CFR 135 PILOT WITH LIGHT LOAD OF CARGO WAS TAKING OFFOF 10000 X 150 FT RUNWAY PILOT SAID RT ENGINE LOST POWER HE REDUCED POWER TO LD WAS 50 FT AGL AND BOUNCED ON SECOND TOUCHDOWN ACFT DEPT RUNWAY AT 45 ANGLE NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF IN SOD WIND WAS 30 OFF NOSE AT 12K GUSTING 2 1 RT WING CAP DESTROYED BY GROUND CONTACT ENGINE EXAM DISCLOSED NO MALFUNCTION ACFT FERRIED OUT AFTER STRUCTUAL-NO ENGINE REPAIR

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3434](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3434-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 193 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6-200
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 193
- Airframe hours: 28805
- Engines: P&W PT6-20 579 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Mountain Air Cargo
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 1985, 63 hours before
- Departed: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI
- Destination: TVC, TRAVERSE CITY, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GRR, Kent County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,445 total, 400 in this make and model, 7,200 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GRR, 1 nm away

## 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 19850403012889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850403012889A), Apr 3, 1985: Dhav DHC6200, Grand Rapids, MI, Substantial damage. Assumed yawing due to engine failure. Reduced power, bounced off runway side, sheared nosegear. No engine failure.

## Other investigations on N3434 (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 IAD05LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA073), Jun 4, 2005: de Havilland DHC-6 (N3434), Rittman, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with the ground.

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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