# NTSB DEN99IA033: Beech E90, N16NM, Clovis, NM, January 18, 1999 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 1999, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Clovis, NM - Location: 34.4386° N, 103.1942° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clovis, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4386&lon=-103.1942&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99IA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45619/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99IA033 ## Probable cause Total failure of the elevator control cable due to a short circuit from chafing against an adjoining electrical cable, and failure of maintenance personnel to detect the problem during an AAIP phase inspection. ## Analysis The air ambulance flight was transporting a male infant in an incubator to Clovis, New Mexico. During the descent into Clovis, the control yoke moved to the full forward position. The pilot eased back on the yoke and the nose pitched up. The pilot was able to maintain control by the use of power and elevator trim, and elected to return to Albuquerque, where an uneventful landing was made. Postincident examination disclosed a drooping wire bundle beneath the pilot's seat, at F.S. 122. The insulation around the H16A10 wire (copilot's windshield heat) had chafed against the elevator down cable (part number 50-524439-31), causing a short circuit. Although the pilot did not detect the odor of smoke, the elevator cable was burnt through and had separated. No circuit breakers were opened nor were any fuses blown. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 1999, approximately 1210 mountain standard time, a Beech E90, N16NM, being operated by Seven Bar Flying Service of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was not damaged when the elevator control cable failed during initial descent into Clovis, New Mexico. The airline transport rated pilot, flight nurse, and patient were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the nonscheduled domestic passenger air taxi flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 135. The flight originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 1112. The air ambulance flight was transporting a male infant in an incubator to Clovis, New Mexico. During the descent into Clovis, the control yoke moved to the full forward position. The pilot eased back on the yoke and the nose pitched up. The pilot was able to maintain control by the use of power and elevator trim, and elected to return to Albuquerque, where an uneventful landing was made. Postincident examination disclosed a drooping wire bundle beneath the pilot's seat, at F.S. 122. The insulation around the H16A10 wire (copilot's windshield heat) had chafed against the elevator down cable (part number 50-524439-31), causing a short circuit. Although the pilot did not detect the odor of smoke, the elevator cable was burnt through and had separated. No circuit breakers were opened nor were any fuses blown. Seven Bar Flying Service then grounded its remaining fleet of four E90s for an inspection. No discrepancies were found in three of the airplanes (serial numbers were above LW-156), but some chafing of the electrical cables wqere noted on a fourth airplane, N14NM (s.n. LW-35). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal - flt control syst,elevator control - failure,total (cause) - electrical system,electric wiring - chafed (cause) - electrical system,electric wiring - shorted (cause) - maintenance,aaip/progressive program - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: N16NM (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech E90 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LW-62 - Airframe hours: 10468 - Engines: P&W PT6A-28 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Seven Bar Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 9, 1998, 69 hours before - Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Destination: CVN, NM - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,300 total, 65 in this make and model, 4,010 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 21 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CVN, 50 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19990118010449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990118010449I), Jan 18, 1999: Beech E90, Albuquerque, NM. On January 18,1999, approximatley 1210 mountain standard time, Beech E90, N16NM, being operated by seven bar flying service of albequerque, new Mexico, was not… 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.