- Date
- December 9, 1990, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Perris Valley, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 20 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N121PMde Havilland DHC-6-100
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 6, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901209053309A
- Case key
- 26968
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of power on the left engine due to a fatigue failure of a compressor turbine blade leading to further compressor blade damage; a worn power turbine governor throttle cam assembly which led to loss of power on the right engine; and inadequate maintenance and inspection by the operator.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After lift-off, at about 100 ft AGL and 85 KTS, the left eng decelerated and the airplane began to yaw and roll left. The PIC aborted the takeoff, turned left and landed on a flat level field. The airplane struck a fence, then trees. Examination of the left eng revealed the loss of power was attributed to a fatigue fracture of a compressor turbine blade, which led to subsequent blade fractures. The right eng was examined and found to have advance wear on the throttle cam assembly of the power turbine governor. In a test cell, only aprx 28% of takeoff power could be achieved. The cam lobe wear had progressed over an extended period of time. The right engine prop governor was replaced 11/18/90, followed by a test run.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N121PM
- Reported as
- de Havilland DHC-6-100
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14
- Airframe hours
- 45,332
- Engine
- P&W PT6-20, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- One Papa Mike Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · August 1, 1990 · 81 hours before
- Airport
- L65 · Perris Valley, runway 15, 5,100 × 65 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,527 total · 333 in this make and model · 2,576 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N121PM · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.