# NTSB DCA94MA033: Saab-Scania 340B, N349SB, New Roads, LA, February 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: February 1, 1994, 21:40 local (Feb 2, 1994, 03:40 UTC) - Place: New Roads, LA - Coordinates: 30.689373, -91.450447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6894&lon=-91.4504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 25 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 1995 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 10982 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA94MA033.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10982/pdf - Board report AAR9406 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9406.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94MA033 ## Probable cause THE CAPTAIN'S MOVEMENT OF THE POWER LEVERS BELOW FLIGHT IDLE IN FLIGHT, THE INADEQUATE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND CONSEQUENT DESIGN OF THE AIRPLANE'S POWER LEVERS THAT PERMITTED THEM TO BE MOVED BELOW THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION INTO THE BETA RANGE, EITHER INTENTIONALLY OR INADVERTENTLY, WHILE IN FLIGHT, AND THE INADEQUATE ACTION TAKEN TO REQUIRE A POSITIVE MEANS TO PREVENT BETA OPERATION ON AIRPLANES FOR WHICH SUCH OPERATION IS PROHIBITED. (NTSB REPORT AAR=94/06) ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - all engines - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause) - insufficient standards/requirements,aircraft, manufacturer (cause) - insufficient standards/requirements,aircraft, faa(organization) (cause) - insufficient standards/requirements,aircraft, other govt organization (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Overrun, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis WHILE DESCENDING FOR LANDING AT BATON ROUGE, THE CAPTAIN ACTIVELY MOVED THE POWER LEVERS FROM THE FLIGHT IDLE GATE INTO THE BETA RANGE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE PROPELLERS AND ENGINES EXPERIENCED EXTREME OVERSPEED, NECESSITATING A POWER-OFF EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT AND THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END OF A 5,000-FT RUNWAY. ALTHOUGH THE DESIGN AND CERTIFICATION OF THE POWER LEVERS MET EXISTING REQUIREMENTS, THOSE REQUIREMENTS WERE INADEQUATE BECAUSE THEY PERMITTED A DESIGN THAT DID NOT PREVENT MOVEMENT INTO THE BETA RANGE IN FLIGHT. THE AIRFRAME & ENGINE INDUSTRY, THE FAA, AND THE CERTIFICATION AUTHORITIES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WERE SLOW IN REACTING TO SEVERAL PREVIOUS IN-FLIGHT BETA OCCURRENCES THAT LED TO SERIOUS INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS. ## Factual narrative On February 1, 1994, at 2140 central standard time, a Saab 340B, N3495B, operated by Simmons Airlines as American Eagle flight 3641, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at the False River Air Park in New Roads, Louisiana. The flight had been requested to descend by air traffic control from FL210, into Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The flightcrew stated after the accident that the captain was at the controls during the descent, and while passing through about 10,000 feet MSL, with the engine power levers in the flight idle position, a "loud roar" was heard followed by a loss of power on both engines. Passengers and the flight attendant stated that following the "roar," they observed "flames" or "sparks" coming from the rear of each engine. The captain continued the descent and attempted several inflight emergency airstarts, however, they were unsuccessful. The first officer observed the lights of an airport and directed the captain to the runway where he executed a dual-engine out approach. The airplane touched down on runway 18 and continued off the end of the runway, accross the grass and a ditch, and came to rest upright on all three landing gear in a sugar cane field. The passengers were evacuated via the airstair door. SEE BLUE COVER REPORT AAR-94/06 ## Aircraft - Registration: [N349SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N349SB-2009-03-19), registration cancelled 2009-03-19, S/N 340B-349 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Saab-Scania AB (Saab) 340B - Registry model: [Saab-Scania SAAB 340B](https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-scania-saab-340b) (registry code 7860101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CT7-SER series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct7-ser-series) (registry code 30031, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340B-349 - Airframe hours: 528 - Engines: GE CT7-9B turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Simmons Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 9, 1994, 129 hours before - Departed: DFW, DALLAS/FT.WORTH, TX - Destination: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LA30, False River Air Park, runway 18, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.