# NTSB FTW97LA007: Hispano Aviacion HA-200 Saeta, N3179K, Elk City, OK, October 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 1996, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Elk City, OK - Coordinates: 35.399971, -99.410003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4000&lon=-99.4100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20083/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA007 ## Probable cause The loss of aircraft control due to a fuel imbalance as a result of a partial failure of the fuel jettison system. A factor was that fuel could not be transferred from the left wing tip fuel tank to the rear fuselage fuel tank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - fuel system - flow restricted (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - fuel system,fuel jettison system - failure,partial (cause) - fluid,fuel - out of balance (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll ## Analysis While in cruise flight the airplane experienced a fuel feed problem from the left wing tip fuel tank to the rear fuselage fuel tank. The pilot made the decision to execute a precautionary landing at the Elk City Municipal Airport to correct the fuel imbalance problem. While on short final to runway 17, at approximately 100 feet AGL, the pilot attempted to jettison the fuel from both wing tip fuel tanks in order to maintain aircraft control. The jettison cap opened fully on the right wing tip tank and only opened partially on the left wing tip tank. The pilot applied full right aileron and rudder; however, the airplane's left wing tip 'hit' the grass to the left of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the runway to the left, crossed a drainage ditch, and came to rest upright approximately 650 feet from the runway. Examination of the left wing tip fuel tank revealed that the dump cable release was binding, and initially pulling on the cable did not retract the one ball bearing found protruding from the cylinder wall. After pulling the cable about 10 times it freed up and began to retract the ball bearing. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 1996, approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Hispano Aviacion (Casa) HA-200 Saeta, N3179K, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Elk City, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Wichita, Kansas, about 1 hour before the accident. The pilot reported to the investigator-in-charge the following information. While in cruise flight the airplane experienced a fuel feed problem from the left wing tip fuel tank to the rear fuselage fuel tank. The pilot made the decision to execute a precautionary landing at the Elk City Municipal Airport to correct the fuel imbalance problem. While on short final to runway 17, at approximately 100 feet AGL, the pilot attempted to jettison the fuel from both wing tip fuel tanks in order to maintain aircraft control. The jettison cap opened fully on the right wing tip tank; however, the jettison cap on the left wing tip tank only opened partially. The pilot applied full right aileron and rudder; however, the airplane's left wing tip "hit" the grass to the left of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the runway to the left, crossed a drainage ditch, and came to rest upright approximately 650 feet from the runway. An examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose and main landing gear had collapsed, the top of the right wing near the fuselage was wrinkled, and the left wing tip fuel tank had separated from the wing. An examination of the airplane's wing tip fuel tanks by the NTSB revealed that the right tip tank was intact and undamaged with the fuel dump cap missing. The left tip tank was split in half along a rivet line near the mid point of the tank, and the fuel dump cap was missing. The dump cable release was binding, and initially pulling on the cable did not retract the one ball bearing found protruding from the cylinder wall. After pulling the cable about 10 times it freed up and began to retract the ball bearing. The portion of the dump mechanism that remains with the tank appeared to be permanently attached to the inside of the tank and was not identical to the inner piece found in the right tip tank. See the enclosed photos. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3179K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3179K-2001-12-20), registration cancelled 2001-12-20, S/N 20/46, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hispano Aviacion HA-200 SAETA (HA-200 SAE) - Registry model: [Hispano Aviacion HA-200 SAETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/hispano-aviacion-ha-200-saeta) (registry code 4380115) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca MARBORE IIC](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-marbore-iic) (registry code 60004, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-46 - Airframe hours: 840 - Engines: Turbomeca MOUBORE IIA 880 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gregory K. Hiser - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, August 28, 1996, 20 hours before - Departed: ICT, WICHITA, KS - Destination: CDS, CHILDRESS, TX - Airport: ELK, Elk City Municipal, runway 17, 4,400 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,630 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,530 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19961005034439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961005034439A), Oct 5, 1996: Hspavn HA200, Elk City, OK, Substantial damage. Fuel inbalance en route. Diverted. On final tried dump wingtip tanks. One tank dumped only. Cable had jammed. (-23) pilot departed mid-continent airport (ict),… 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.