# NTSB DEN92FA035: Swearingen SA-26AT, N26JB, Glenwood Spring, CO, February 14, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 13, 1992, 20:55 local (Feb 14, 1992, 03:55 UTC)
- Place: Glenwood Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 39.540405, -107.329658 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5404&lon=-107.3297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92FA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18147/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92FA035

## Probable cause

MALFUNCTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FLAME OUT, AND DELAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE COMPRESSOR SHROUD.  FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED, THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - fuel system,fuel control - movement restricted (cause)
  - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command
- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - turbine assembly,shroud - delamination (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE AIR AMBULANCE FEATHERED THE RIGHT PROPELLER AFTER REPORTING 'A BIT OF A PROBLEM' WITH THE RIGHT ENGINE.  HE ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE AIRPORT, BUT AFTER RECEIVING ITS LATEST WEATHER REPORT, ELECTED TO RETURN TO BASE.  THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT TURN, REENTERED IMC, AND IMPACTED A MOUNTAINSIDE ON A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 092 DEGREES.  THE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT OF INTENDED LANDING WAS 272 DEGREES.  THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A SNOW STORM AT NIGHT.  ALL FIVE OCCUPANTS SURVIVED AND WERE RESCUED THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON.  THICK GREASE ON THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL CAM SHAFT PREVENTED A SPRING FROM RETURNING THE 3D CAM TO A LOWER ALTITUDE POSITION.  THE CAM WAS FOUND STRUCK ON THE SHAFT AT A POSITION EQUATING TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 15,000 FEET.  THE FUEL FLOW SCHEDULE FOR FLIGHT IDLE WAS BELOW SPECIFICATIONS.  IN ADDITION, SHROUD MATERIAL WAS FOUND DELAMINATED FROM THE LEFT ENGINE SECOND STAGE COMPRESSOR HOUSING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26JB-1994-12-21), registration cancelled 1994-12-21, S/N T26163 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-26AT
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA-26AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (registry code 8780112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T26-163
- Airframe hours: 3988
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-1-151G 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Fowler, Richard L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 23, 1991, 27 hours before
- Departed: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,600 total, 750 in this make and model, 8,550 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F

## 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 19920213005749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920213005749A), Feb 13, 1992: Swrngn SA26AT, Glenwood Spring, CO, Destroyed. Secured right engine due surging. Problem left engine. Pilot disoriented. Hit mountain. Fuel control. Shroud defect.

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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