- Date
- June 11, 2000, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Watson Island, FL
- Injuries
- 17 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N142PAGrumman G-73T
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 8, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000611035039I
- Case key
- 49403
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
the overload separations of the control yoke on the captain's side.
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 landing, the pilot stayed on the step, and water taxied. The pilot had the control yoke up to his chest, and the captain's side control separated from the vertical column. Examination of the surface control column assembly, fitting P/N 112703, revealed that the fracture surface showed no evidence of preexisting fracture areas on any of the four fracture regions. All fractures were typical of overstress separations.
Factual narrative
On June 11, 2000, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-73T, N142PA, operated by Chalks Airlines Inc., had the captain's side control yoke separate while water taxiing at Watson Island, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled international flight. The airplane received minor damage. The two airline transport-rated pilots, and 15 passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed from Bimini, Bahamas, at an unknown time.
After landing, the pilot stayed on the step, and water taxied. The pilot had the control yoke up to his chest, and the captain's side control separated from the vertical column.
The surface control column assembly, fitting P/N 112703 was sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, D. C., for examination. According to the laboratory report, the assembly was fractured at the intersection of the stem and collar portion, with four separate fracture regions created. According to the NTSB Materials Laboratory factual report, "...visual examination of the fracture surface...showed no evidence of preexisting fracture areas on any of the four fracture regions. All fractures were typical of overstress separations."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N142PA
- Reported as
- Grumman G-73T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- J42
- Airframe hours
- 28,180
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-34, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Chalks Airline
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · April 26, 2000 · 150 hours before
- Departed
- NSB · Bimini, OF
- Destination
- MPB
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 28
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,533 total · 890 in this make and model · 4,010 as pilot in command · 265 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Wind
- 100° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIA
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 N142PA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.