# NTSB MKC89IA048: Gulfstream Commander 690A, N690MF, St. Paul, MN, December 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1988, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Paul, MN
- Coordinates: 44.929779, -93.079994 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9298&lon=-93.0800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34703
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89IA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34703/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89IA048

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - roll/run
  - combustion assembly - ruptured (cause)
  - combustion assembly - fatigue (cause)

## Analysis

THE PIC HAD PREFLTD HIS COMMANDER TURBOPROP AND PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF FM THE ST. PAUL ARPT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL JUST AS THE ACFT WAS ROTATED TO TAKEOFF ATTITUDE, THE RT ENG FAILED. THE PIC EASED THE ACFT BACK TO THE RWY, REDUCED PWR AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. WITH THE REMAINING ENG THE PIC TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP AREA. INSP OF THE ENG REVEALED A FAILED PLENUM CHAMBER, WITH A LARGE TEAR IN THE INCONEL 718 SHEET METAL. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE PLENUM REVEALED MULTIPLE FATIGUE FRACTURE AREAS IN THE WELDED SEAMS. THE ENG WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INSPCTD, A SERVICEABLE PLENUM WAS USED AS A REPLACEMENT AND THE ENGINE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N690MF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM COMMANDER 690A (COMMANDER)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11103
- Airframe hours: 6331
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-5251K 717 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Great Western Aviation
- Registered owner: Great Wester Aviation Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 13, 1988, 31 hours before
- Destination: FSD, SIOUX FALLS, SD
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,014 total, 486 in this make and model, 3,956 as pilot in command, 251 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 5 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: STP

## 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 19881229058199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881229058199I), Dec 29, 1988: Gulstm 690A, St Paul, MN, Minor damage. One engine failed on takeoff. Fire in engine. No structural damage.

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.