- Date
- December 23, 1986, 06:20 local (12:20 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Smith, AR
- Injuries
- 6 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N223ASEmbraer Brasilia EMB-120
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19861223087219A
- Case key
- 34305
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flight crew stated that they were initiating a descent into final approach for a landing when the right engine gearbox chip detector lgith illuminated followed by a loud bang and severe vibration. When the propeller was feathered and the engine shut down with the condition lever the rotation and vibration stopped, the crew further stated. The aircraft landed without further incident. A post-incident teardown inspection of the powerplant at the factory revealed a sudden and catastrophic failure of the propeller reduction gearbox assembly due to a high cycle, metal fatigue fracture on one, of two, helical gears. Teardown and insepction of the propeller assembly revealed severe damage to the composite plastic blade retainer rings and metal actuator yokes due to sudden deceleration and stoppage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N223AS
- Reported as
- Embraer Brasilia EMB-120 (BRASILIA E)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 120.021
- Airframe hours
- 329
- Engine
- P&W PW118, 1,600 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Atlantic Southeast Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- FYV · Fayetteville, AR
- Destination
- FSM · Fort Smith, AR
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- Fort Smith Municip
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,460 total · 3,260 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FSM, 5 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.