# NTSB NYC88IA078: Beech 1900C, N818BE, Philadelphia, PA, January 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 26, 1988, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Location: 39.9523° N, 75.1638° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Philadelphia, PA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9523&lon=-75.1638&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 14 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88IA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36019/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88IA078

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - flt control syst,elevator control cable/rod - jammed (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - light condition - night

## Analysis

THE BEECH 1900C TOOK OFF ON A SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LEVEL THE AIRCRAFT AT 5000 FT, THE CO-PILOT WAS UNABLE TO PUSH THE CONTROL WHEEL FORWARD FAR ENOUGH TO LEVEL OFF. BY REDUCING POWER, THE CREW WAS ABLE TO COMPENSATE. THE CREW SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED FOR A NORMAL LANDING AND ALL OCCUPANTS DEPLANNED NORMALLY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED THAT A SHOP RAG HAD BECOME JAMMED IN THE ELEVATOR CONTROL PULLEY UNDER THE PILOTS SEAT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR 21 HOURS SINCE THE LAST INSPECTION WHERE THE FLOOR PLATES IN THE COCKPIT WERE OPENED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N818BE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818BE-1996-05-31), registration cancelled 1996-05-31, S/N UB61 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 1900C
- Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: UB-61
- Airframe hours: 27900
- Engines: P&W PT6A-65B 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Business Express
- Registered owner: Atlantic Leasing & Financial
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 23, 1988, 21 hours before
- Departed: PHL, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Destination: BDL, WINDSOR LOCKS, CT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHL

## 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 19880126071409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880126071409I), Jan 26, 1988: Beech 1900C, Philadelphia, PA. Unable to level at cruise altitude due to jammed elevators. Made no flap landing. Found shop rag jammed in pulley.

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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