# NTSB WPR09LA211: De Havilland DHC-8, N449YV, Phoenix, AZ, April 21, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2009, 17:38 local (Apr 21, 2009, 00:38 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.434165, -112.01139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4342&lon=-112.0114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 17 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73707 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73707/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73707 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA211 ## Probable cause The failure of ramp personnel and the flight crew to maintain clearance from ground equipment while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the improper positioning of the ground equipment. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Parking/securing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Flight crew (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause) ## Analysis The captain reported that upon arrival at the ramp area they had to wait for marshalers to arrive so that the airplane could be guided to the gate. As the marshalers were guiding the airplane, the captain lost sight of the ground power unit (GPU) on the right side and queried the first officer several times about whether they were clear of the GPU. The first officer responded that they were clear of the GPU; however, the right engine's propeller blades struck the GPU as the marshaler was crossing his arms to stop movement. The GPU struck the fuselage and damaged the propeller assembly. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors reported that the GPU was not parked in its designated spot and was located about 7 feet aft of its required parking spot. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2009, at 1738 mountain standard time, a Dehavilland DHC-8-202, N449YV, struck a ground power unit (GPU) with the right propeller while taxiing to parking at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona. Mesa Airlines operated the flight as Air Shuttle flight 2957 under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as a scheduled passenger service flight. The captain, first officer, flight attendant, and 14 passengers were not injured; there were no ground injuries. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the international flight that departed the General Jose Maria Yanez International Airport (GYM), Guaymas, Mexico, at 1540. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. In the operator's written report to the National Transportation Safety Board, the flight crew stated that upon arrival at the ramp area, they had to wait just outside the gate area for marshalers to arrive so the airplane could be guided up to the gate. The flight crew noted that upon arrival, the marshaler's wands were in crossed position, indicating "Stop," as the marshaler waited for additional wing walkers. Once all of the wing walkers were in place, they commenced to guide the airplane up to the gate. As they were guided into the gate area, the captain lost sight of the power cart, which was not an abnormal occurrence. He asked the first officer (FO) how the power cart looked, and the FO said it was okay. The captain reported that as the marshaler raised his arms to cross them, the number 2 propeller struck the power cart. According to PHX airport operations personnel, the airplane was being ground marshaled to gate B24, with the aid of a marshaler and wing walkers. As the airplane reached its final stopping point, the right propeller struck the GPU. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors reported that the GPU was about 7 feet aft of the required parking spot for the GPU. After the propeller blades struck the GPU, the GPU was pulled back toward the fuselage, damaging the engine, propeller, and fuselage. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) for the accident airplane was shipped to the NTSB vehicle recorder laboratory, Washington, D.C., for read out. The CVR was a Fairchild Model A-100A, serial number 62478. The CVR was received at the vehicle recorder division's audio laboratory in good condition, and the data was extracted normally. This model records 30 minutes of analog audio on a continuous loop taken in a four-channel format. A CVR group was not convened; however, a summary of events from the CVR was prepared. Upon taxi to the ramp the FO remarked several times about clearing the airplane. Prior to the accident, the captain asked the FO to watch the cart, and the FO responded that they are clear. A few seconds later the captain asked if they still had clearance from the cart. He starts to ask again about the cart and the CVRpicks up the sound of the impact followed by sounds similar to engine shut down. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N449YV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N449YV), registered now, S/N 449, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-8 (202) - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-8-202](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-8-202) (registry code 2809007) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw123) (registry code 52129, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 449 - Airframe hours: 31353 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PW123D 2150 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt and Whitney PW123D 2150 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Mesa Airlines, doing business as Air Shuttle - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 19, 2009, 631 hours before - Departed: GYM, Guaymas - Destination: PHX, Phoenix, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHX, Phoenix Sky Harbor Internation ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 4,603 total, 2,746 in this make and model, 3,360 as pilot in command, 257 in the last 90 days, 94 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 21, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 917 total, 534 in this make and model, 222 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PHX ## 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 20090420004609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090420004609A), Apr 20, 2009: Dhav DHC8202, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Air suttle flt 2957, struck a ground power unit with right engine propeller while taxiing into gate B24 at Phoenix, AZ. ## Other investigations on N449YV (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 FTW98LA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA353), Jul 27, 1998: de Havilland DH-8-202 (N449YV), Telluride, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate chocks and inadequate chocking procedures by the operator. Factors were the unavailability of the parking brake and sloping terrain. ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73707. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 372 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345660&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Cockpit Voice Recorder 12 - Specialist's Factual Report (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cockpit%20Voice%20Recorder%2012%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Report from PHX Airport Operations (item 3, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345663&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20PHX%20Airport%20Operations-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane with damage (PHX Airport Operations) (item 4, .PDF, 959 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345655&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20with%20damage%20(PHX%20Airport%20Operations)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Close up of tug and damaged area of airplane (PHX airport operations) (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Close%20up%20of%20tug%20and%20damaged%20area%20of%20airplane%20(PHX%20airport%20operations)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Damaged outside section of airplane (FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 511 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damaged%20outside%20section%20of%20airplane%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Damaged inside section of airplane (FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Damaged%20inside%20section%20of%20airplane%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Normal location of tug (FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 575 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Normal%20location%20of%20tug%20(FAA)-Master.PDF 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.