# NTSB ERA24LA131: Fairchild SA227-AT, N563TR, Smyrna, TN, March 4, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 3, 2024, 18:50 local (Mar 4, 2024, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Smyrna, TN · 37617 - Coordinates: 36, -86 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0000&lon=-86.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193896 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193896/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193896 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA131 ## Probable cause The airplane encountered a sink hole while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild SA227-AT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=3377510), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) (defining event); cases with it: [Fairchild SA227-AT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md?model=3377510), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he and the co-pilot had just begun to taxi to the runway from their hangar. The airplane traveled about 150 ft when the ground gave way (sink hole due to a broken water main) under the left main landing gear. The landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the left-wing spar and lower fuselage. The left engine propeller blades were also damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N563TR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N563TR), registered now, S/N AT563 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227-AT - Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-at) (registry code 3377510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Garrett TPE331-11U](https://openairdocs.org/engine/garrett-tpe331-11u) (registry code 29073, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AT563 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 2555389 - Engines: Garrett TPE-331-IIU-612G 1000 horsepower turbo prop; Garrett TPE-331-IIU-612G 1000 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 135 - Operator: Kolob Canyons Air Services Inc - Registered owner: Kolob Canyons Air Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, February 12, 2024 - Destination: GKY, Arlington, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MQY, Smyrna - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,901 total, 948 in this make and model, 2,079 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 776 total, 444 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: MQY ## 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 20240303001819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240303001819A), Mar 3, 2024: Fairchild SA227-AT, Smyrna, TN, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was taxiing from the hanger to the taxiway. Approximately 150 into the taxi onto the appron the appron surface collapsed due to a sink… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193896. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 9.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16925453&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20FINAL_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16925896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 698 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16925182&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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.