# NTSB DEN93LA011: Beech 1900C, N317BH, Denver, CO, November 15, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 15, 1992, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.759998, -104.919464 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7600&lon=-104.9195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 18 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18262
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18262/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA011

## Probable cause

THE RAMP AGENT MISJUDGING THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE AND GPU.  A FACTOR WAS:  UNAVAILABILITY OF PROPER GROUND ASSISTANCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - clearance - misjudged, ground personnel (cause)
  - proper assistance - unavailable, company/operator management (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER STARTING THE NO. 2 ENGINE, THE CAPTAIN SIGNALLED THE RAMP AGENT TO DISCONNECT THE GROUND POWER UNIT (GPU).  THE AGENT SIGNALLED THE CAPTAIN THE GPU HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED AND THE CAPTAIN VERIFIED THIS BY OBSERVING THE 'EXT PWR' ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT HAD EXTINGUISHED AND THERE WAS NO VOLTAGE TO THE EXTERNAL POWER SELECTOR ON THE VOLTMETER.  AFTER STARTING THE NO. 1 ENGINE, THE CAPTAIN SIGNALLED THE RAMP AGENT HE WAS READY TO TAXI.  THE AGENT GAVE AN ALL CLEAR SIGNAL AND DIRECTED HIM TO MAKE A HARD RIGHT TURN. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS PIVOTING RIGHT, THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GPU, RUPTURING THE PRESSURE VESSEL.  THE CAPTAIN SAID THE DISCONNECTED GPU WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE COCKPIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N317BH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N317BH-1998-01-12), registration cancelled 1998-01-12, S/N UB32 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 1900C
- Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: UB-32
- Engines: P&W PT6A-65B 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Britt Airways, Inc., doing business as Continental Express
- Registered owner: Beech Acceptance Corp., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 1900
- Departed: DEN
- Destination: TEX, TELLURIDE, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton Int'L

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 16,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 16 °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 19921115049429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921115049429A), Nov 15, 1992: Beech 1900C, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Tail struck APU during turnout from gate. Ground crewman signaled turn. Had neglected to move APU clear.

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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