LAX96LA280

NTSB accident investigation · Mitsubishi MU-2B · Scottsdale, AZ · July 20, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 20, 1996, 08:57 local (15:57 UTC)
Place
Scottsdale, AZ
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N999FAMitsubishi MU-2B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 25, 1997
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19960720019079A
Case key
29515

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

an uncontained failure of the second stage turbine wheel due to fatigue. Factors were: obstructions in the forced landing area and the inability of the airplane to climb after the turbine wheel failure.

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfTakeoff - initial climb
1 engine
Turbine assembly,turbine wheel - fatigueCause
Turbine assembly,turbine wheel - separation
Misc,engine uncontained failure
Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - flare/touchdown
Object - utility poleFactor
Object - vehicleFactor
Maneuver to avoid obstructions - performedPilot in command
Object - wall/barricadeFactor

Analysis

The right engine lost power after an uncontained engine failure during the initial takeoff climb. The airplane would not climb and the pilot was forced to land. The pilot selected a street for a forced landing area. The pilot landed gear up while maneuvering to avoid hitting street light poles and automobiles. After touchdown, the airplane slid into a block wall. A fire erupted as a result of a postimpact fuel leak in the left wing. The airplane's engines were examined at the manufacturer's facilities. The right engine exhibited evidence of an uncontained separation of the second stage turbine rotor disk. Examination of the disk fragments revealed a low cycle fatigue fracture mode. The fatigue initiated from multiple areas at and adjacent to the inside diameter bore surface near the aft side of the disk. According to the engine manufacturer, the multiple indication areas were associated with uninspectable size porosity and the primary carbides in the cast material. There were no material or casting defects detected on any of the fractures through the wheel.

Factual narrative

On July 20, 1996, at 0857 hours mountain standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, N999FA, landed off the airport after a loss of power during the initial takeoff climb from the Scottsdale Municipal Airport, Scottsdale, Arizona. The airplane was subsequently destroyed by fire and the airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane was destined for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot told the Safety Board that the right engine sustained an uncontained engine failure after lift-off while the landing gear was being retracted. After the loss of power, the airplane would not climb. The pilot selected a street about 2 miles northwest of the airport for a forced landing area. The pilot elected to land gear up, while maneuvering to avoid hitting street light poles and automobiles. After touchdown, the airplane slid into a block wall. A fire erupted as a result of a postimpact fuel leak in the left wing destroying the airplane.

The airplane's engines were examined by the Federal Aviation Administration at manufacturer's facilities in Phoenix, Arizona. According to the manufacturer, the left engine damage was indicative of engine rotation and operation at the time of impact.

The right engine exhibited evidence of an uncontained separation of the second stage turbine rotor disk. Three fragments of the disk remained inside the engine and numerous other fragments exited. Not all of the fragments were recovered. Examination of the three disk fragments revealed a low cycle fatigue fracture mode. The fatigue initiated from multiple areas at and adjacent to the inside diameter bore surface near the aft side of the disk. According to the engine manufacturer, the multiple indication areas were associated with uninspectable size porosity and the primary carbides in the cast material. During the examination, there were no material or casting defects detected on any of the fractures through the wheel. According to the manufacturer, the rest of the damage to the right engine was secondary resulting from the fatigue separation of the second stage turbine wheel.

Aircraft

Registration
N999FA
Reported as
Mitsubishi MU-2B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
676
Airframe hours
8,878
Engine
Garrett TPE-331, 715 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
D & D Aviation
Registered owner
Med Arizona, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · July 7, 1996 · 5 hours before
Departed
SDL
Destination
PHX · Phoenix, AZ
Airport
SDL · Scottsdale Municipal, runway 21, 8,251 × 75 ft

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
34
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
4,559 total · 81 in this make and model · 4,437 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
150° at 7 knots
Visibility
60 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
95 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
FFZ, 15 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.