# NTSB FTW88MA083: British Aerospace BAE-3101, N411AE, Decatur, TX, March 25, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: March 25, 1988, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Decatur, TX
- Coordinates: 33.349128, -97.690521 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3491&lon=-97.6905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22689
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88MA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22689/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88MA083

## Probable cause

AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH ROUGHT TERRAIN DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING. THE FORCED LANDING WAS NECESSITATED AFTER THE CAPTAIN USED IMPROPER PROCEDURES TO SHUTDOWN THE LEFT ENGINE IN FLIGHT FOLLOWING AN UNEXPLAINED TORQUE FLUCTUATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, descent - normal
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - propeller feathering - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - habit interference, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COPLT WAS FLYING THE ACFT AS IT WAS BEING FERRIED AFTER MINOR MAINTENANCE. AS THEY WERE IN A DESCENT AND WERE APCHG THE DESTN ARPT, THE CAPT NOTED A LEFT ENG TORQUE FLUCTUATION OF 20% TO 30% & ELECTED TO SECURE THE ENG, ALTHOUGH NO YAWING WAS NOTICED. DRG SHUTDOWN, THE LEFT PROP DID NOT FEATHER & DRAG INCREASED UNTIL THE ACFT WOULD NOT SUSTAIN LEVEL FLT. AN ATTEMPTED RESTART OF THE LEFT ENG WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, SO THE CAPT TRIED TO FEATHER IT AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE LEFT PROP STILL DID NOT FEATHER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLTS WERE FORCED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD ON UNEVEN TERRAIN & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION WAS MADE, BUT NO CAUSE COULD BE FOUND FOR THE TORQUE FLUCTUATION, NOR COULD THE CONDITION BE DUPLICATED, HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATION DID NOTE THAT THE AIR & GROUND PROCEDURES FOR ENG SHUTDOWN WERE SIMILAR. A VARIATION IN THE GROUND SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES ALLOWED FOR ENGAGEMENT OF THE START LATCHES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N411AE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N411AE-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 671 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: British Aerospace BAE-3101
- Registry model: [British Aerospace BAE JETSTREAM 3101](https://openairdocs.org/model/british-aerospace-bae-jetstream-3101) (registry code 1500216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 671
- Airframe hours: 4475
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE-331 900 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Chaparral Airlines, doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner: U.S. Trust Co. Of New York
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 3, 1988, 83 hours before
- Departed: SPS, WICHITA FALLS, TX
- Destination: DFW, DALLAS, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,841 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 3,230 as pilot in command, 246 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW, 45 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).

- [Accident 19880325071179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880325071179A), Mar 25, 1988: Bag JETSTM3101, Decatur, TX, Substantial damage. Left engine shut down due to surged prop on start locks. Unable to maintain altitude. Crash landed.

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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