- Date
- April 4, 2001, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- San Juan, PR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N19BADouglas DC3A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20010404009259I
- Case key
- 52026
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 captain's activation of the left propeller feathering button after failure of the right engine for undetermined reasons resulting in loss of all engine power and the airplane making a forced landing in water.
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
The flight crew stated that while making a missed approach after a practice instrument landing system approach, the right engine failed. The captain took control of the airplane from the copilot. The captain stated that while he performed the emergency procedures for engine failure, he noticed the left engine was not producing power. He then made a forced landing in water east of the airport. He stated that just before impact, he feathered the left propeller. The copilot stated he observed the captain activate the propeller feathering button for the left engine as he performed the emergency procedures for the right engine failure. The reason for failure of the right engine was not determined.
Factual narrative
On April 4, 2001, about 1220 Atlantic standard time, a Douglas DC-3A, N19BA, registered to and operated by Roblex Aviation Company, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, ditched in a shallow lagoon, near Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico, following loss of power in the right engine during a missed approach. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received minor damage, and the airline transport-rated pilot and commercial-rated copilot were not injured. The flight originated from San Juan, Puerto Rico, the same day, about 1200.
The captain stated to FAA inspectors that he was giving flight training to the copilot. As engine power was applied to perform a go-around from an approach to runway 10, the right engine failed. The captain took control of the airplane and performed the emergency procedures for engine failure. While performing the procedures, he noticed the left engine was not producing power. He elected to make a forced landing in the water, 1 mile east of the airport. Just before impact with the water, he feathered the left propeller to avoid a sudden turn during impact.
The copilot stated to FAA inspectors that they performed a practice ILS approach to runway 10. The right engine failed and the captain took control of the airplane. While the captain was performing the emergency procedures for the right engine failure, he observed the captain push the left propeller feather button. He had not noticed any malfunction of the left engine prior to this.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N19BA
- Reported as
- Douglas DC3A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4986
- Airframe hours
- 39,832
- Engine
- P&W R1820-92, 1,200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Roblex Aviation Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 26, 2001 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- SJU · San Juan, PR
- Airport
- SJU · Luis Munoz Marin International, runway 10, 8,016 × 150 ft, concrete
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 11, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,795 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 8,178 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- July 7, 1998
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,300 total · 1,247 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- SJU, 1 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.