# NTSB FTW93IA048: Embraer EMB-120RT, N16729, Houston, TX, December 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1992, 15:48 local (21:48 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.990745, -95.350288 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9907&lon=-95.3503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 18 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18586
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93IA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18586/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93IA048

## Probable cause

THE ASSIGNED MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO REINSTALL THE ATTACHMENT SCREWS AND THE QUALITY INSPECTOR'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE COMPLETED WORK.  A FACTOR WAS THE COMPLACENCY OF THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb
  - wing,skin - not secured
  - maintenance,installation - not performed, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - complacency, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE FIRST OFFICER FELT A VIBRATION THROUGH THE AIRFRAME AND THE CONTROL COLUMN.  THE CAPTAIN FELT THE SAME VIBRATION AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 14 SCREWS WERE MISSING FROM THE LEFT UPPER AILERON VANE AND THAT THE SCREWS HAD BEEN LEFT OUT AFTER THE VANE WAS PARTIALLY REMOVED DURING MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.  THE ASSIGNED MECHANIC DID NOT REPLACE THE SCREWS AND THE QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR FAILED TO SEE THAT THEY WERE MISSING DURING HIS INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16729](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16729-2007-10-25), registration cancelled 2007-10-25, S/N 120.185, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER EMB-120RT
- Registry model: [Embraer EMB-120ER](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-120er) (registry code 3260203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw118) (registry code 52116, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 120-185
- Airframe hours: 4200
- Engines: P&W PWC100 1800 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Britt Airways, Inc., doing business as Continental Express
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 9, 1992, 1 hours before
- Departed: IAH
- Destination: ESF, ALEXANDRIA, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAH, Intercontinental

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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).

- [Incident 19921209053989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921209053989I), Dec 9, 1992: Emb EMB120RT, Houston, TX. Vibration in aircraft after takeoff. Returned. Found upper aileron vane missing due to improper maintenance.

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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