MIA96FA067

The flight departed on a maintenance test flight with known wind gusts to 27 knots. Before takeoff the pilot performed an NTS check to each engine with no discrepancies noted. During flight the pilot performed an NTS check to the left engine. Two attempts to restart the left engine were unsuccessful. Each time the propeller came out of the feathered position and started to rotate but there was no fuel flow or ignition. The flight returned to land and while on short final to runway 29 with the wind from 250 degrees at 20 knots, a witness observed the airplane pitch nose up then down then heard the sound of power applied to the right engine. The airplane than rolled to the left, pitched nose down, impacted the ground coming to rest nearly inverted with the wing section separated. Postaccident examination of the left engine and accessories revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The left engine fuel shutoff valve was found in the 'closed' position and no fuel was found aft of the fuel shutoff valve. The pilot stated that he has no recollection of the accident. The left and right engines had just been installed following 'hot section' work to both, and both were then started the day after installation with no discrepancies noted by company maintenance personnel.

History of flight

On January 19, 1996, about 0923 eastern standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, N50KW, registered to and operated by Bankair, Inc., experienced a loss of control while on short final approach to land at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, West Columbia, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR clearance was received for the 14 CFR Part 91 maintenance test flight. The airplane was destroyed and the airline transport-rated pilot and a passenger/company mechanic were seriously injured. The flight originated about 0905 from the accident airport.

The pilot stated that he has no recollection of the accident. The purpose of the flight according to company maintenance personnel was to document engine parameters in flight following installation of the left and right engines after maintenance. The company mechanic stated after both engines were started and a Negative Torque Sensing (NTS) check of both engines on the ground was accomplished with no evidence of malfunction. The pilot then requested taxi clearance and advised that the flight had Airport Terminal Information Service (ATIS) "Juliet." The flight was cleared to taxi then takeoff and to fly and maintain 5,000 feet which the pilot acknowledged.

The mechanic stated that both he and the pilot discussed the procedures to accomplish an NTS check in flight to include altitude and airspeed to fly the airplane. The mechanic reported using his own checklist for the NTS in-flight check of the left engine first and stated that it took 20 seconds for the engine rpm to decrease from 100 to 30 percent. The pilot then feathered the left propeller which came to a complete stop. The first attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful. The airstart procedures were then reviewed and a second attempt to restart the engine was also unsuccessful. The mechanic stated that on each attempt the propeller came out of the feathered position and started to rotate but there was no fuel flow indication or ignition. The pilot then elected to return to the airport and was provided a vector to runway 29 by the departure controller. The pilot then requested the winds which the Air Traffic Control (ATC) transcript indicates the pilot was advised that the wind was from 230 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 30 knots; and runway 23 was available. At 0913.08, the pilot first advised the controller that the flight was single engine and requested runway 23. The controller asked if the pilot needed any assistance and the pilot responded negative but the Crash Fire Rescue personnel were alerted by the controller. At 0914.32, the controller alerted all inbound aircraft on that frequency that low level wind shear advisories were in effect for the airport. The pilot then requested runway 29 and the controller provided a vector for the flight that would allow another company airplane to land on runway 23. Another restart attempt was also unsuccessful. The pilot was then advised of the location of the company traffic that was inbound to runway 23 and the flight was cleared for a visual approach to runway 29, which the pilot acknowledged. At 0921, the controller requested that the pilot slow 20-30 knots due to his groundspeed being 50 knots faster than the other company airplane inbound to runway 23. At 0921.20, the flight was cleared to land. The mechanic stated that he does not recall any airspeed indications but does recall that the landing gear was down and locked and the gear door light was not illuminated.

Witnesses observed the airplane on final approach with the left propeller in the "feathered" position and not windmilling and the flaps extended. A company mechanic who was a witness stated that when he observed the airplane on short final the airplane pitched nose up then down and about that time he felt two strong gusts of wind. He further stated that "During the second pitch up he heard what sounded like power being applied to the operative (right) engine. At this point the airspeed seemed to almost visibly decay as the aircraft yawed and rolled left..." He then observed the airplane impact the ground in a nose and left wing low attitude. The airport crash/fire rescue vehicles that were prepositioned near the approach end of runway 29 responded to the crash sight and sprayed the wreckage and surrounding area with AFFF. The pilot and passenger were both extricated from the wreckage and transported to medical facilities for treatment of their injuries.

Personnel information

Information pertaining to the pilot is contained on page 3 of the Factual Report-Aviation under the heading First Pilot Information. Additional information is also contained in NTSB Form Supplement U.

Aircraft information

Review of the left engine maintenance records revealed that on January 5, 1996, the "hot section" was disassembled due to binding and to comply with the hot section inspection. Sercviceable parts were installed and the engine was reassembled and installed on the airframe on January 16, 1996. Company maintenance personnel indicate that following installation specifically of the left engine, rigging of the fuel shutoff valve, power and condition levers were accomplished in accordance with the airplane maintenance manual. The left engine was operated several times after installation for adjustments and checks.

Meteorological information

The pilot did not obtain a preflight weather briefing before takeoff but had landed about 0815 that same morning. An automated surface observation station located on the airport recorded the wind at 0756 and 0824 to be from 260 degrees at 22 knots with gusts to 28 knots and 260 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 27 knots respectively.

Wreckage and impact

Examination of the airplane at the crash site revealed that the main wreckage consisted of the fuselage with the attached horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The wing section was separated into two sections, each of which had an engine attached and the left wing tip tank was separated.

Ground Scars were observed on grass about 23 feet south of the south edge of runway 23 and the flight path was about 229 degrees in a 100-110 degree angle of bank to the left in an approximate 30-degree nose low attitude. The first and second ground scars were noted to be in the shape of the tip tank which came to rest about 159 feet from the initial impact point. Continuing on the ground were ground scars from the left engine propeller which were located about 15 feet from the second tip tank ground scar. A ground scar in the shape of the nose section of the airplane was noted in the grass about 18 feet beyond the propeller ground scars. Continuing along the wreckage path were a section of one of the flaps, a section of one of the spoilers, and components from the weather radar unit from the nose section of the airplane. The left wing section with attached engine assembly was found on runway 23 with the nose spinner and propeller blades resting on the runway surface. The separated section consisted from the tip tank attach point to about the engine attach point area. The main wreckage which came to rest on a magnetic heading of 165 degrees was nearly inverted with the vertical stabilizer contacting the asphalt of runway 23. The right wing section was continuous from the attached tip tank through the center section and just outboard of the wing root area. The right wing section with attached engine and propeller was found about 5 feet aft of the main wreckage with the wing chord nearly perpendicular with the ground resting on the nearly separated wing tip and propeller blades.

Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the cockpit/nose section was displaced about 45 degrees to the right and was nearly separated from the fuselage aft of the pilots and copilots side windows. Propel