# NTSB NYC90FA104: Short Brothers SD3-60-200, N381MQ, Jamaica, NY, May 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 1990, 12:25 local (16:25 UTC)
- Place: Jamaica, NY
- Coordinates: 40.649654, -73.790695 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6497&lon=-73.7907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36531
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36531/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA104

## Probable cause

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT TAXIED INTO A HOLD POSITION THAT WAS TOO CLOSE TO A DEPARTING B-747, WHICH RESULTED IN THE A/C BEING BLOWN INTO A BLAST FENCE. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE LACK OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION FROM THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE FLIGHT CREW ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM WHICH TO BASE THEIR DECISION ON THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIRPLANE BEHIND THE DEPARTING 747.

## Sequence of events

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

- Propeller blast or jet exhaust/suction, taxi - to takeoff
  - distance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - flight manuals - inadequate, manufacturer (cause)
  - inadequate initial training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate initial training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

FLIGHT 335 A SD3-60 WAS CLEARED TO TAXI INTO POSITION AND HOLD BEHIND A DEPARTING B-747-400. AS FLIGHT 335 TAXIED FORWARD OF THE HOLD LINE. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND WAS BLOWN INTO THE BLAST FENCE BY THE THRUST OF THE DEPARTING AIRPLANE. THE PIC HAD 44 HOURS IN TYPE WITH 10 HOURS AS PIC AND HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN AN ATR-42 F/O. THE SIC HAD 49 HOURS IN TYPE AND CAME FROM GENERAL AVIATION. SHORT BROTHERS, THE MANUFACUTURER WAS QUERIED AS TO THE EFFECT OF HIGH VELOCITY WIND ON THE AIRPLANE. THEY STATED A WIND OF APPROXIMATELY 70 KTS PERPENDICULAR TO THE FUSELAGE COULD UPSET THE AIRPLANE. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PILOTS IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL OR THE OPERATOR. THE COMPANY HAD A CREW PARING POLICY PROHIBITING THE PAIRING OF TWO LOW TIME CREWMEMBERS TOGETHER. THIS WAS WAIVED BY THE VP FLIGHT FOR THE CREW ONLY POSITIONING FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N381MQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N381MQ), registered now, S/N SH3703 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHORT BROTHERS SD3-60-200
- Registry model: [Short Bros SD3-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/short-bros-sd3-60) (registry code 8100606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: SH3703
- Engines: P&W PT6A-65AR 1425 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Command Airways, doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner: U.S. West Financial Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: JFK, JAMAICA, NY
- Destination: POU, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JFK, John F. Kennedy

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,800 total, 44 in this make and model, 1,965 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JFK, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900511018329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900511018329A), May 11, 1990: Stbros SD360, New York, NY, Substantial damage. Taxied onto runway behind departing 747. Was blown into a blast fence.

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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