# NTSB MIA90IA159: de Havilland DHC-8-100, N800MX, Panama City, FL, July 25, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1990, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Panama City, FL
- Coordinates: 30.200242, -85.670074 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2002&lon=-85.6701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 28 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32585
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90IA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32585/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90IA159

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF SEAL IN THE HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR FOR THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING SPOILER PANEL FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - flt control syst,wing spoiler system - deployed inadvertently (cause)
  - hydraulic system,seal - leak (cause)
  - warning system(other) - disengaged
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, company maintenance personnel

## Analysis

DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF ROLL THE CREW NOTED A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING WING SPOILER DEPLOYMENT AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL DEACTIVATED THE WING SPOILER SYSTEM AND THE WING SPOILER WARNING SYSTEM. AFTER TAKEOFF THE CREW EXPERIENCED ROLL CONTROL DIFICULTY AND RETURNED AND LANDED. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT OUTBOARD SPOILER PANEL HAD DEPLOYED WITH NO WARNING. THE ACTUATOR WAS REMOVED AND THE HYDRAULIC SEAL WAS FOUND CUT AND LEAKING AROUND THE PISTON THAT WAS WORN BEYOND SERVICABLE LIMITS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N800MX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800MX-1999-12-15), registration cancelled 1999-12-15, S/N 007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-8-100
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-8-102](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-8-102) (registry code 2809003) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1259
- Engines: P&W 121A 2150 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Metro Express
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 700 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Observed at: PFN

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.

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