# NTSB SEA90FA080: Swearingen SA226-T(B), N161RS, Coeur D'Alene, ID, May 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1990, 13:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Coeur D'Alene, ID
- Coordinates: 47.589778, -116.909088 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5898&lon=-116.9091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41109
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90FA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41109/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA080

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE GROUND LINEMAN.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPAIRMENT OF THE GROUND LINEMAN FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.

## Analysis

THE ASSISTANCE OF A GROUND LINEMAN WAS OBTAINED TO CONNECT AN EXTERNAL POWER UNIT.  AFTER THE ENGINES WERE STARTED, THE LINEMAN DISCONNECTED THE POWER UNIT.  THE PILOT NOTED THE DISCONNECT AND COMPLETED THE CHECKLIST.  WHEN HE LOOKED UP TO FIND THE LINEMAN, HE SAW AN INDIVIDUAL WALKING AWAY FROM HIS AIRPLANE AND ASSUMED THAT IT WAS THE LINEMAN THAT HAD BEEN ASSISTING HIM.  THE PILOT RELEASED THE BRAKES AND STARTED FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE AIRPLANE. THE LINEMAN, HOWEVER, WAS STILL NEXT TO THE AIRPLANE AT THE EXTERNAL POWER RECEPTACLE, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NOSE IN FRONT OF THE PROPELLER.  THE LINEMAN AND POWER UNIT WERE STRUCK BY THE RIGHT PROPELLER.  A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE LINEMAN'S BLOOD SHOWED IT HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.037%.

## Sequence of events

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

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, taxi
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, ground personnel (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), ground personnel (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - vehicle

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N161RS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N161RS-1997-02-18), registration cancelled 1997-02-18, S/N T341 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA226-T(B)
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226-T(B)](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226-t-b) (registry code 8780406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T341
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 940 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bertea Aviation Inc.
- Destination: 65S, BONNERS FERRY, ID
- Airport: COE, Coeur D'Alene

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,800 total, 190 in this make and model, 5,600 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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).

- [Accident 19900520021429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900520021429A), May 20, 1990: Swrngn SA226TB, Coeur D Alene, ID, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Lineman had disconnected power start when aircraft moved forward hit lineman and tug.

## Other investigations on N161RS (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 SEA93LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA053), Jan 16, 1993: Swearingen SA-226T(B) (N161RS), John Day, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.

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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