# NTSB MIA97IA160: Short Brothers SD3-60, N263GA, Miami, FL, May 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 1997, 13:06 local (17:06 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.820106, -80.299446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8201&lon=-80.2994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 31 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38162 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97IA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38162/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97IA160 ## Probable cause fatigue failure of a segment of the elevator trim cable system. A factor relating to the incident was: inadequate procedure for inspection of the cable system by the airplane manufacturer. ## 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,elevator trim/tab control - fatigue (cause) - procedure inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, an elevator trim cable failure occurred at a pulley at fuselage station 275. The flight remained airborne to burn fuel, then landed uneventfully. Metallurgical examination of the failed cable revealed that 42 of the 49 individual wires failed due to fatigue. The elevator trim cable segments were only required to be visually inspected every 4,800 hours or 48 months. The trim cable segments were last inspected 22 months earlier and had accumulated 2,456.9 hours and 2,290 cycles since inspection. The failed cable had accumulated a total time of 10,562.3 hours and 14,525 cycles at the time of the failure. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 1997, about 1306 eastern daylight time, a Shorts Brothers SD3-60, N263GA, registered to the State Street Bank and Trust Company, operated by Gulfstream International Airlines, Inc., as flight 7427, experienced failure of an elevator trim cable shortly after takeoff from the Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled, domestic, passenger flight. The airplane was not damaged and the captain, first officer, 1 flight attendant, and 28 passengers were not injured. The flight originated about 1 minute earlier from the Miami Airport. The first officer was flying the airplane and after takeoff about 300 feet, the elevator trim failed. The controller was advised of the situation and the flight remained airborne about 51 minutes to burn fuel. An uneventful landing occurred and the airplane was taxied to the gate where the passengers were deplaned. Examination of the airplane revealed a failed elevator trim cable at a 1.250 inch pulley located at fuselage station 275. The failed cable is for nose-up trim. Metallurgical examination of the cable revealed fatigue failure of 42 of the 49 individual wire strands. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the cable is required to be only visually inspected every 48 months or 4,800 hours. The cable was last inspected 22 months earlier and had accumulated 2,456.9 hours and 2,290 cycles since inspection. The cable had accumulated a total time of 10,562.3 hours and 14,525 cycles at the time of failure. The airplane minus the retained failed cable was released to Mr. Wayne Modny, Director of Quality Control, Gulfstream International Airlines, on June 10, 1997. The retained cable was also released to Mr. Wayne Modny on July 14, 1997. ## Aircraft - Registration: N263GA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Short Brothers SD3-60 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: SH3754 - Airframe hours: 10562 - Engines: P&W PT6A-67R 1220 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Gulfstream Int'L Airlines - Registered owner: State Street Bank & Trust Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 3, 1997, 39 hours before - Departed: MIA - Destination: MCO, ORLANDO, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MIA, Miami International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,117 total, 1,121 in this make and model, 4,780 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 140 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19970509025029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970509025029I), May 9, 1997: Stbros SD360, Miami, FL. Elevator trim failed on climbout. Burned off fuel. Returned. Nose up trim cable broke from fatigue. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.