# NTSB DCA83AA017: de Havilland DHC-6-300, N361V, Hailey, ID, February 15, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1983, 11:02 local (18:02 UTC)
- Place: Hailey, ID
- Coordinates: 43.570854, -114.209213 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5709&lon=-114.2092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 7 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15778
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83AA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15778/pdf
- Board report AAR8403 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8403.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83AA017

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - flt control syst,elevator control - disconnected (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM THE ARPT OF INTENDED LANDING DURING THE APPROACH WHEN THE CREW EXPERIENCED A LOSS OFELEVATOR CONTROL. THE ACFT STARTED DIVING TOWARD THE GROUND WHEN THE POWER WAS REDUCED. THE PLT APPLIED FULL POWER TO TRY AND RESTORE LEVEL FLT. THE CREW DID NOT RECALL USING THE ELEVATOR TRIM TO RAISE THE ACFT NOSE. THE APPLICATION OF POWER ACCELERATED THE RAISING OF THE NOSE WHICH WOULD HAVE RAISED AT A SLOWER RATE USING ONLY THE ACCELERATION OF THE DIVE. THE CAPT COULD NOT REACH THE ARPT RWY BUT WAS ABLE TO ALIGN WITH AND LAND ON A HIWAY. THE NOSE WAS STILL DOWN AND THE ACFT DESCENDING WITH THE AIRSPEED AT 120 KTS WHEN THE ACFT CONTACTED THE HIWAY AND CARTWHEELED INTO A SNOWBANK ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. AN EXAM OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL REVEALED A PUSH-PULL ROD HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM AN ELEVATOR TORQUE TUBE. THE CONTROL HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED WHEN THE ACFT WAS PAINTED IN 12/81 & WAS RECONNECTED WITH A NONSTANDARD, UNSECURED BOLT. MAINT RECORDS WERE SKETCHY AS TO THE PROCEDURES DURING THIS MAINT. FAA SURVEILLANCE DID'NT DETECT PRBLM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N361V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N361V-1984-05-30), registration cancelled 1984-05-30, S/N 361 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6-300
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 361
- Airframe hours: 4767
- Engines: P&W PT6A-27 652 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Sierra Pacific Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 5, 1983, 28 hours before
- Departed: BOI, BOISE, ID
- Destination: SUN
- Airport: Friedman Memoriel, runway 31, 6,600 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 164 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19830215074129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830215074129A), Feb 15, 1983: Dhav DHC6300, Hailey, ID, Destroyed. Crash occurred due to loss of elevator control caused by unsecured bolt on elevator torque tube.

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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