MIA95FA155

Witnesses stated they observed the airplane descending to the right of the final approach path with the landing gear down and an engine was heard sputtering. The wings of the airplane were observed to be rocking back and forth. The airplane rolled right 90 degrees. The nose pitched up, rolled inverted, collided with a parking lot and slid in between a front end loader and a dump truck.

History of flight

On June 23, 1995, about 1054 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402A, N7884J, registered to Air Florida Express Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, crashed on a visual approach to runway 09 left at Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Marsh Harbor, Bahamas, about 1 hour 14 minutes before the accident.

Witnesses stated they observed the airplane descending to the right of the final approach path for runway 09 left with the landing gear down and an engine was heard sputtering. The wings of the airplane were observed to be rocking back and forth. The airplane rolled right 90 degrees. The nose pitched up, the airplane rolled over inverted, the nose pitched down, the airplane collided with a parking lot and slid in between a front end loader and a dump truck coming to a complete stop.

Transcripts of recorded transmissions between Miami Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), N7884J, and review of Miami ATCT continuous data recording radar revealed there were no airplanes in the vicinity of N7884J at the time of the accident. (See FAA transcripts of communication and radar data attached).

Personnel information

Information pertaining to the pilot, is contained in NTSB Form 6120.4.

Aircraft information

The pilot stated the airplane logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the accident. No logbooks were found at the crash site. Records on file with the FAA Miami Flight Standards District Office, revealed on June 5, 1995, a ramp inspection was conducted on N7884J. Numerous discrepancies were noted, and an aircraft condition notice was placed on the airplane. The condition notice indicated the airplane was considered to be an imminent hazard to safety, and operation of the airplane before correction will be contrary to pertinent Federal Aviation Regulations. In addition a letter was hand delivered to the registered owner by the FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, requiring written corrective action to be taken within 3 working days. No written corrective action was received by the FAA.

Meteorological information

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Review of weather information for Miami International Airport, for the time of the accident, revealed no recorded record of turbulence, downdrafts, gusts, or windshear. (For additional information see NTSB Form 6120.4).

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage of N7884J was located about 1/2 mile west of runway 09 left adjacent to N.W. 67th avenue and N.W. 26th street in the parking lot at the Department of Agriculture Fumigation Site.

Examination of the crash site revealed the right main fuel tank and right wing collided with the asphalt parking lot. The right main fuel tank was ruptured, and a small stain was present on the parking lot. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 089 degrees. The right engine separated from the right wing, and an on-ground fire ensued in the vicinity of the right engine compartment. The left main fuel tank, left and right auxiliary fuel tanks were empty and not ruptured. The left propeller separated from the propeller flange. Three propeller slashes from the right propeller were located on the parking lot measuring 26 inches and 41 inches apart. Five propeller slashes from the left propeller were located on the parking lot measuring 11 inches, 12 inches, 15 inches, and 20 inches apart.

Examination of the airframe and flight control assembly revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

The left and right engine assembly and accessories were transported to an authorized repair facility in Miami, Florida, for an engine test run. Both engines started, ran, and developed power.

Examination of the left propeller assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash failure or malfunction. Torsional twisting, blade bending, and excessive leading edge scoring was present on the propeller blades. The bearing races were fractured and the blade assemblies were unseated. All attachment studs and dowels were pulled out of the hub mounting surface. The pitch change piston rod was bent on the aft end. A measurement of the bend indicates the mechanism was positioned at a blade angle of about 16 degrees. At 85 knots forward speed at impact, the estimated propeller rpm was 1720 rpm based on propeller slashes located at the crash site. (For additional information see McCauley Teardown Inspection of Propellers From Cessna 402A, N7884J).

Examination of the right propeller assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. The right propeller sustained minimal damage with blade assemblies remaining properly seated with no retention bearing damage. The pitch change mechanism sustained minimal damage. The studs and dowels of the hub attachment were not damaged, and the propeller assembly remained attached to the engine. The right propeller was being operated under low power conditions, and was probably windmilling on the low pitch stop (14.2 degrees) at impact. At 85 knots forward speed at impact, the estimated propeller rpm was 835 rpm based on propeller slashes located at the crash site. (For additional information see McCauley Teardown Inspection of Propellers From Cessna 402A, N7884J).

Medical and pathological information

The pilot, sustained serious injuries. Toxicology studies of specimens from the pilot was performed by Jackson Memorial Hospital, in Miami. These studies were negative for neutral, acidic, and basic drugs.

Test and research

Review of fuel slips obtained from Signature Flight Support, Miami International Airport, revealed N7884J main fuel tanks (50 gallons each), and auxiliary fuel tanks (20 gallons each), were topped off on June 18, 1995. The airplane was flown from Miami to Marsh Harbor, Bahamas, and back to Miami. The main fuel tanks were topped off by adding 51 gallons of fuel. The airplane was flown from Miami, to Nassau, and back to Miami. The airplane main fuel tanks were refueled on June 22, 1995, and the airplane was flown from Miami, to Nassau, and back to Miami. The airplanes main fuel tanks were topped off with 85 gallons of fuel. The pilot taxied out to go to Marsh Harbor, but returned to the ramp 45 minutes later. The airplane was not refueled. The airplane was flown from Miami, to Marsh Harbor, and back to Miami. The airplane had about 86 gallons of fuel in the main fuel tanks when the airplane departed Miami. No fuel was purchased in Marsh Harbor before returning to Miami. Calculated fuel for straight and level flight was 83.14 gallons. (For additional information see Cessna Fuel Consumption Calculations attached to this report).

A review of FAA Advisory Circular 61-21A, Flight Training Handbook states on page 234, "Vmc can be defined as the minimum airspeed at which the airplane is controllable when the critical engine is suddenly made inoperative, and the remaining engine is producing takeoff power....The principle of Vmc is not at all mysterious. It is simply that at any airspeed less than Vmc air flowing along the rudder is such that application of rudder forces cannot overcome asymmetrical yawing forces caused by takeoff power on one engine and a powerless windmilling propeller on the other." The Owner's Manual for the Cessna 402 states the minimum control speed for single-engine operations is 95 mph.

Additional information

A certified letter requesting additional information and NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was mailed to the pilot on June 29, 1995. The form was completed; however, the additional information was not received.

The airplane wreckage was released to Mr. John Hamill