- Date
- May 11, 1991, 15:18 local (20:18 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 21 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N715NCShort Brothers SD3-60
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910511021439A
- Case key
- 14901
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the nose wheel steering hydraulic line during after landing ground operations. A related factor is the manufacturer's inadequate inspection and/or replacement standards.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during post landing taxi operations, he was unable to steer the airplane or apply normal brakes. The airplane departed the taxiway, and ran across a grass median and service road before it impacted a light pole and came to a stop. Post accident investigation revealed a failed nosewheel steering hydraulic line, which allowed system fluid to be ported overboard into the nose wheelwell. Further examination revealed the line failed as a result of a puncture of the internal hose by the worn/frayed outer braid. Records indicate the failed line was original equipment and had operated through 17,969 hours and 21,324 cycles.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N715NC
- Reported as
- Short Brothers SD3-60
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- SH-3610
- Airframe hours
- 17,887
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-65AR, 1,424 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Simmons Airlines/Am.Eagle
- Last inspection
- AAIP · April 28, 1991 · 82 hours before
- Departed
- RFD · Rockford, IL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORD · O'Hare International
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 7,758 total · 2,990 in this make and model · 197 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ORD, 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.