# NTSB NYC89IA084: Beech 200, N123D, Burlington, VT, February 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1989, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Burlington, VT
- Location: 44.4924° N, 73.2395° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Burlington, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4924&lon=-73.2395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89IA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36307/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89IA084

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A FROZEN ELEVATOR SURFACE.

## 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
  - flight control,elevator - movement restricted (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE CHARTER CAPTIAN EXPERIENCED RESTRICTED MOVEMENT TO THE ELEVATOR DURING CLIMBOUT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND RETURNED TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT OF ORIGIN. THE PILOT FOUND SNOW AND SLUSH BRUSHED INTO THE OPENINGS FOR THE ELEVATOR HINGE ASSEMBLY AND SUSPECTED THAT THIS TRAPPED MOISTURE FROZE TO THE HINGE CAUSING THE RESTRICTION. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED ONLY WET WING SURFACES, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE INTO THE OPENINGS ON TOP OF THE ELEVATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N123D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB-1219
- Engines: P&W PT6A 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Evans Air, doing business as Same
- Registered owner: Evans Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: BED, BEDFORD, MA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,900 total, 1,300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F

## 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 19890215013639I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890215013639I), Feb 15, 1989: Beech B200, Burlington, VT. Experienced loss of control to the elevator during climb out. Returned. Found hinges and control rod ends frozen.

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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