# NTSB MKC85IA045: Swearingen SA226TC, N322BA, St. Louis, MO, January 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1985, 16:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.630241, -90.189331 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6302&lon=-90.1893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85IA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33870/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85IA045

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - flt control syst,elevator trim/tab control - erratic
  - maintenance,overhaul - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER DEPARTING ST LOUIS AND REACHING CRUISE FLT THE CREW EXPERIENCED A CONTINUAL TRIM PITCH-UP WHICH HAD TO BE RELIEVED BY A REDUCED AIRSPEED. NO AURAL INDICATION WAS NOTED BY THE CREW. THE RETURN TO THE AIRPORT WAS UNEVENTFUL. FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION OF THE TRIM SYSTEM REVEALED A OUT OF TOLERANCE TRIM ACTUATOR WITH 355 OPERATIONAL HOURS SINCE O-TIME OVERHAUL. NORMAL LIFE FOR A TRIM ACTUATOR IS ABT 2000 HOURS. THIS UNIT WAS CERTIFIED AS O-TIME BY AN FAA CERTIFIED SHOP. A TEARDOWN INSPECTION OF THE TRIM ACTUATOR UNIT REVEALED THAT THE UNIT WAS NOT OVERHAULED TO SPECIFICATIONS OF THE UNIT MANUFACTURER. THE TRIM ACTUATOR WAS INADEQUATE FOR OPERATION AS OVERHAULED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N322BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N322BA-1990-05-30), registration cancelled 1990-05-30, S/N TC261 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA226TC
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC261
- Airframe hours: 13923
- Engines: Airesearch TPE3313UW303G 940 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Britt Airways
- Registered owner: Britt Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: STL, ST. LOUIS, MO
- Destination: EVANSVILLE, IN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STL, 6 nm away

## Other investigations on N322BA (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 CHI88FA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA205), Aug 16, 1988: Fairchild SA-226-TC (N322BA), Cleveland, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE CAPTAIN'S LATE DECISION TO ABORT AFTER A PROPELLER LINKAGE FAILURE ON THE RIGHT ENGINE AND THE CO-PILOT'S FAILURE TO RELINQUISH ENGINE AND BRAKING AUTHORITY TO THE CAPTAIN RESULTING IN CONFUSION…

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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