# NTSB MKC89IA082: Gulfstream 690A, N690MF, Bismark, ND, March 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1989, 21:30 local (Mar 21, 1989, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Bismark, ND
- Coordinates: 46.819499, -100.70034 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8195&lon=-100.7003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89IA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89IA082

## Probable cause

A FAILED (CRACKED) ENGINE PLENUM RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
  - combustion assembly,inner casing - cracked (cause)
  - maintenance,replacement - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate compliance determination, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF AT NIGHT, THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED. THE FIGHT CREW SECURED THE RIGHT ENGINE & RETURNED TO A SAFE LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. AN ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACK IN THE PLENUM COMBUSTOR CHAMBER. THE CRACK EMINATED FROM A WELD BETWEEN TWO EXTERNALLY FIXED (WELDED) MOUNTS. THIS WAS THE SECOND PLENUM CHAMBER USED ON THIS ENGINE IN SIX MONTHS AND WAS OBTAINED FROM SPARE PARTS OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. IT WAS VISUALLY DETERMINED TO BE AIRWORTHY. NO OPERATIONAL HISTORY WAS AVAILABLE ON THIS PLENUM, NOR WAS THERE A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT. REPLACEMENT WAS ON CONDITION, AND DAMAGE CONDITIONS WERE REQUIRED TO MEET THE MANUFACTURERS CRITERIA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N690MF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM 690A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11103
- Airframe hours: 6565
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-5-251K 717 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Greatwestern Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 10, 1989, 28 hours before
- Destination: FAR, FARGO, ND
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BIS, Bismarck Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; 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: 5,596 total, 384 in this make and model, 5,416 as pilot in command, 255 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIS

## 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 19890320014949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890320014949I), Mar 20, 1989: Gulstm 690A, Bismarck, ND, Minor damage. Engine failure on climb. Fire warning. Secured engine and returned. Engine plenum had failed.

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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