WPR12LA211

NTSB accident investigation · Beech F33A · Mobile, AZ · May 13, 2012

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 13, 2012, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
Place
Mobile, AZ
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N5521ABeech F33A
Defining event
Takeoff: Runway excursion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 15, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20120513008439A
Case key
83673

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The student pilot stated that he applied takeoff power, and the airplane accelerated along the centerline of the runway. As the airplane accelerated through about 50 to 55 knots, it suddenly yawed to the left. Despite the student pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left and exited the runway. Examination of the airplane's flight control system and nose wheel steering system revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On May 13, 2012, about 1430 mountain standard time, a Beech F33A, N5521A, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at the Mobile Airport (1AZ0), Mobile, Arizona. The airplane was registered to Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc, and operated as an instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport (GYR), Goodyear, Arizona, about 1309. The student pilot reported that he was practicing a series of full stop landings and takeoffs at 1AZ0. The first three landings and takeoffs were uneventful and he noted that the wind was light, requiring almost no crosswind correction, however, he observed several "dust devils" near the airport and throughout the valley. The student pilot stated that as he taxied onto runway 9, a 4,500-foot long, 75-foot wide asphalt runway, the windsock indicated northerly wind from seven to eight knots and that the dust devil southeast of the airport could not be seen anymore. The student pilot applied takeoff power and the airplane accelerated along the centerline of the runway. As the airspeed accelerated through about 50 to 55 knots, the airplane suddenly yawed to the left and despite the student pilot's control inputs, continued to the left and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck several bushes to the left of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the inboard portion of the right wing was crushed aft. Additional damage was observed on the right horizontal stabilizer. The FAA inspector reported that flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane's primary flight control system. Examination of the nose wheel landing gear and steering linkages revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from a weather station located GYR, located about 19 miles north of the accident site, revealed at 1447 conditions were wind from 250 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 15,000 feet, temperature 39-degrees Celsius, dew point -1 degree Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of Mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N5521A
Reported as
Beech F33A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
CE-1338
Airframe hours
23,536
Engine
Cont Motor IO-520-BB65, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Airline Training Center Arizona Inc
Registered owner
Airline Training Center Arizona Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · April 22, 2012 · 51 hours before
Departed
GYR · Goodyear, AZ
Destination
GYR · Goodyear, AZ
Flight plan
Company VFR
Airport
1AZ0 · Mobile Airport, runway 09, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
29 total · 29 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
102 °F, dew point 30 °F
Altimeter
29.87 inHg
Observed at
GYR, 19 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.0 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.