# NTSB NYC93FA044: Beech 18T, N706M, Cleveland, OH, December 15, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 15, 1992, 09:12 local (14:12 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, OH - Location: 41.4094° N, 81.8547° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CLEVELAND-HOPKINS INTL (CLE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4094&lon=-81.8547&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93FA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37237/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93FA044 ## Probable cause THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ELEVATOR BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE LACK OF PROPER INSPECTIONS BY A COMPANY CERTIFIED MECHANIC/INSPECTOR AND THE FAA CERTIFIED MECHANIC WITH INSPECTOR AUTHORIZATION. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS AN INSUFFICIENTLY DEFINED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES THAT ALLOWED MULTIPLE MAINTENANCE TASKS TO BE COMBINED INTO A SINGLE LINE ENTRY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - flight control,elevator attachment - improper (contributing factor) - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - maintenance,inspection - not performed, company maintenance personnel (cause) - condition(s)/step(s) insufficiently defined, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - flight control,elevator - jammed - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis AFTER ROTATION, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO CLIMB UNTIL ABOUT 250 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN ROLLED RIGHT, PITCHED DOWN AND DESCENDED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND, APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES NOSE DOWN, 650 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ELEVATOR JAMMED IN THE FULL UP DEFLECTION. THE UPPER END OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL ROD WAS FOUND NOT CONNECTED TO THE ELEVATOR, BUT WAS FOUND LAYING AFT, WEDGED BETWEEN THE TAIL CONE AND THE ELEVATOR FARING, HOLDING THE ELEVATOR IN THE FULL UP POSITION. THE CONTROL ROD CONNECTING BOLT WAS FOUND LAYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TAIL CONE UNDAMAGED. THE WASHER, NUT AND COTTER PIN RELATED TO THE CONTROL ROD CONNECTING BOLT WERE NOT FOUND. THE ELEVATOR HAD BEEN REMOVED, RECOVERED AND THEN INSTALLED BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL 166 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N706M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N706M-1994-01-04), registration cancelled 1994-01-04, S/N 12360 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 18T - Registry model: [Beech TC-45J](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-tc-45j) (registry code 1151022) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12360 - Airframe hours: 16115 - Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-1 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Mohican Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Mohican Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 7, 1992, 9 hours before - Departed: CLE - Destination: SYR, SYRACUSE, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CLE, Cleveland-Hopkins, runway 23, 7,096 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,768 total, 91 in this make and model, 3,832 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLE, 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 19921215050289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921215050289A), Dec 15, 1992: Beech STC18BEECH, Cleveland, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Elevator control bolt at bellcrank had came off. Elevator control loss caused pitchup and stall on liftoff. ## Other investigations on N706M (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW86LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86LA174), Sep 30, 1986: Beech TC-45J (N706M), Laredo, TX, substantial 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.