# NTSB MIA92LA019: Beech C-45H, N6640R, Fort Lauderdale, FL, October 31, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 30, 1991, 19:02 local (Oct 31, 1991, 00:02 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.090545, -80.149101 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0905&lon=-80.1491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33026
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33026/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA019

## Probable cause

HARD LANDING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE APCH.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

TWO PAX STATED THAT THE FLT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE DURING THE APCH.  THE ACFT LANDED HARD & THE LT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.  THE ACFT THEN YAWED TO THE LT & THE NOSE & RT MAIN LANDING GEARS COLLAPSED DUE TO THE SIDELOAD.  EXAM OF THE LT MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSY REVEALED THAT THE WALKING BEAM FAILED DUE TO OVERSTRESS WHICH ALLOWED THE GEAR TO COLLAPSE.  EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE RT ENG SEPARATED IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION.  THE LT ENG WAS PARTIALLY ATTACHED BUT DEFLECTED IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6640R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6640R-1992-02-27), registration cancelled 1992-02-27, S/N AF511 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C-45H
- Registry model: [Beech C-45H](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-45h) (registry code 1151018) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AF-511
- Airframe hours: 16000
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cavanaugh, David
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1991, 95 hours before
- Departed: MYLS, STELLA MARIS, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FLL, Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood, runway 9, 5,276 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,270 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,196 as pilot in command, 391 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 50° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19911030048219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911030048219A), Oct 30, 1991: Beech C45H, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Hard landing collapsed landing gear and canted both engines downward.

## Other investigations on N6640R (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK71DVM36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK71DVM36), Jan 14, 1971: Tradewinds C-45 (N6640R), San Jose, CA, substantial damage

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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