# NTSB FTW90MA161: Grumman G-159, N80RD, Houston, TX, August 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1990, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.989692, -95.34951 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9897&lon=-95.3495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 4 serious, 8 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23186
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90MA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23186/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90MA161

## Probable cause

PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL PUMP, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER IN THE LEFT ENGINE, BUT NOT ENOUGH OF A POWER LOSS TO TRIGGER AND/OR COMPLETE THE AUTOFEATHERING OPERATION OF THE LEFT PROPELLER, THUS ALLOWING INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE CREW TO MANUALLY FEATHER THE PROPELLER OR ATTAIN VMC (FOR THE AIRCRAFT CONFIGURED WITH AN UNFEATHERED PROPELLER).

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine - surge
  - fuel system,pump - failure,partial (cause)
  - fuel system - output low (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - propeller feathering - initiated, pilot in command
  - propeller feathering - not attained
  - airspeed(vmc) - not possible
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE PASSENGERS & WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED BOTH LEFT & RIGHT AFTER LIFT-OFF. IT THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT & CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE BETWEEN THE RUNWAY & A PARALLEL TAXIWAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT ENGINE HAD SUSTAINED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO TRIGGER OR ALLOW COMPLETION OF THE AUTOFEATHERING OPERATION OF THE LEFT PROPELLER. FEATHERING OF THE LEFT PROPELLER HAD BEEN MANUALLY INITIATED, BUT THE PROPELLER HAD NOT REACHED THE FEATHER POSITION BEFORE IMPACT. MANUAL FEATHERING OPERATION REQUIRED THE FEATHERING PUMP BUTTON BE HELD ABOUT 5 SEC.  'V' SPEEDS (KIAS) FOR THIS FLT WERE: V1 92, VR 99, V2 110, NORMAL VMCA (DEAD ENGINE PROPELLER FEATHERED, FLAPS SET FOR TAKEOFF & AIRCRAFT OUT OF GROUND EFFECT) 101, VMCA (DEAD ENGINE PROPELLER UNFEATHERED/WINDMILLING & FLAPS SET FOR TAKEOFF) 127 KTS. EXAM OF THE ACTUATORS REVEALED THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED & THE FLAPS WERE SET FOR TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80RD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80RD-1991-10-24), registration cancelled 1991-10-24, S/N 198 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-159
- Registry model: [Grumman G-159](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-159) (registry code 3952202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 198
- Airframe hours: 5343
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE 529-8X 2185 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Rowan Companies
- Registered owner: Rdc Marine, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 3, 1990, 40 hours before
- Departed: IAH
- Destination: MSY, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAH, Houston Intl, runway 14L, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,200 total, 760 in this make and model, 17,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: IAH

## 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 19900823035319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900823035319A), Aug 23, 1990: Gulstm G159, Houston, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Left engine compressor stall on nose high,slow speed,early liftoff. Left wing hit. Cartwheeled. Prop not feathered.

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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