ASN Aircraft accident Embraer 120RT Brasilia N270AS Brunswick, GABrunswick-Glynco Jetport, GA (BQK)

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Accident description

Last updated: 19 May 2013

Status:	Final
Date:	05 APR 1991
Time:	14:51 EST
Type:	Embraer 120RT Brasilia
Operating for:	Delta Connection
Leased from:	Atlantic Southeast Airlines - ASA
Registration:	N270AS
C/n / msn:	120218
First flight:	1990
Total airframe hrs:	816
Cycles:	845
Engines:	2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118
Crew:	Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:	Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 20
Total:	Fatalities: 23 / Occupants: 23
Airplane damage:	Destroyed
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	3 km (1.9 mls) W of Brunswick, GABrunswick-Glynco Jetport, GA (BQK) (United States of America)
Phase:	Approach (APR)
Nature:	Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Atlanta-William B. Hartsfield International Airport, GA (ATL/KATL), United States of America
Destination airport:	Brunswick-Glynco Jetport, GA (BQK/KBQK), United States of America
Flightnumber:	2311

Narrative:
Flight 2311 was scheduled initially for airplane N228AS to depart at 13:24 EST. Because of mechanical problems an airplane change was made to N270AS. The flight departed Atlanta at 13:47 and arrived in the Brunswick area about 14:44. At 14:48 the flight was cleared for a visual approach to runway 07. The Embraer had just turned from base leg to final approach when the aircraft was seen to pitch up about 5deg and roll to the left until the wings were vertical. The airplane then nosed down into the ground, 9975 feet short of the runway.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The loss of control in flight as a result of a malfunction of the left engine propeller control unit which allowed the propeller blade angles to go below the flight idle position. Contributing to the accident was the deficient design of the propeller control unit by Hamilton Standard and the approval of the design by the Federal Aviation Administration. The design did not correctly evaluate the failure mode that occurred during this flight, which resulted in an uncommanded and uncorrectable movement of the blades of the airplane's left propeller below the flight idle position."

Events:

Sources:
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 15.04.1991 (32)
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-92-25 through 30
» NTSB/AAR-92/03

Official accident investigation report

investigating agency:	National Transport Safety Bureau (NTSB) - USA
report status:	Final
report number:	NTSB/AAR-92-03
download report:	Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. Flight 2311 Uncontrolled Collision with Terrain an Embraer EMB-120, N270AS Brunswick, Georgia April 5, 1991. (NTSB/AAR-92-03)

Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com

Follow-up / safety actions

NTSB issued 6 Safety Recommendations

Issued: 14-MAY-1992	To: FAA	A-92-025
CONDUCT A CERTIFICATION REVIEW OF THE HAMILTON STANDARD MODEL 14RF PROPELLER SYSTEM AND REQUIRE APPROPRIATE MODIFICATION TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPELLER SYSTEM COMPLIES WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR SECTION 35.21. THE CERTIFICATION REVIEW SHOULD INCLUDE SUBJECTING THE SYSTEM TO THE VIBRATION SPECTRUM THAT WOULD BE ENCOUNTERED IN FLIGHT ON THOSE AIRCRAFT FOR WHICH IT IS CERTIFICATED. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 14-MAY-1992	To: FAA	A-92-026
EXAMINE THE CERTIFICATION BASIS OF OTHER MODEL PROPELLER SYSTEMS THAT HAVE SAME DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS AS THE HAMILTON STANDARD PROPELLER MODEL 14RF AND ENSURE THAT THE FAIL-SAFE FEATURES OF THOSE PROPELLER SYSTEMS WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF UNFORESEEN WEAR OF COMPONENTS IN THE PROPELLER SYSTEM. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 14-MAY-1992	To: FAA	A-92-027
ESTABLISH A PERIODIC INSPECTION TIME REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRANSFER TUBE SPLINES, SERVO BALLSCREW AND BALLSCREW QUILL ON HAMILTON STANDARD MODEL 14RF PROPELLERS AND OTHER PROPELLER SYSTEMS OF SIMILAR DESIGN. (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Issued: 14-MAY-1992	To: FAA	A-92-028
ISSUE AN AIR CARRIER OPERATIONS BULLETIN (ACOB) DIRECTING PRINCIPAL OPERATIONS INSPECTORS TO CLARIFY WITH THEIR OPERATORS THAT THE INTENT OF 14 CFR SECTION 135-265 IS NOT TO ROUTINELY SCHEDULE REDUCED REST, BUT TO ALLOW FOR UNEXPECTED OPERATIONAL DELAYS, AND TO REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH THE INTENT OF THE REGULATION. (Closed - Unacceptable Action)
Issued: 14-MAY-1992	To: ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES	A-92-029
DISCONTINUE THE SCHEDULING OF REDUCED REST PERIODS IN FLIGHT OPERATIONS; AND IN THE INTEREST OF FLIGHT SAFETY, UTILIZE REDUCED REST PERIODS FOR OPERATIONAL CONTINGENCIES CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF 14 CFR 135.265. (Closed - Unacceptable Action)
Issued: 14-MAY-1992	To: Regional Airline Association	A-92-030
ADVISE YOUR MEMBERS THAT THE INTENT OF THE REDUCED REST PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR 135.265 IS NOT TO ROUTINELY SCHEDULE REDUCED REST, BUT CONSISTENT WITH FLIGHT SAFETY, TO ALLOW FOR UNEXPECTED OPERATIONAL DELAYS, AND URGE THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE INTENT OF THE REGULATION. (Closed - Acceptable Action)

Show all AD's and Safety Recommendations

Photos

Map

This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Atlanta-William B. Hartsfield International Airport, GA to Brunswick-Glynco Jetport, GA as the crow flies is 381 km (238 miles).

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Embraer 120

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357 built
worst accident (at the time)
3^rd worst accident (currently)

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United States of America

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150^th worst accident (currently)

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