Narrative:
The Turbo DC-3 had just undergone a Phase 1 inspection at Pretoria. Final power assurance checks were carried out on the aircrafts engines on the morning of the accident. The AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) trimmed the elevator-trim tab to the Full Nose UP position in order to reduce the stick forces required to hold the tail down during the engine power checks, but he did not set the elevator trim back to the neutral position on completion of the checks. The AME was requested by the pilot(s) to remove the aileron and elevator external gust locks and the landing gear down lock pins. He left the rudder lock in place, which was later removed by one of the pilots. The pilot(s) did not carry out a pre-flight inspection. The aircraft then taxied to runway 11 for departure on a mail express flight. At a height of 20 m the aircraft climbed steeply before crashing in a left wing-low attitude. The plane then caught fire. The pilot-in-command, who did not wear a shoulder harness, sustained fatal injuries.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "It would appear that the accident was as a result of the PIC taking-off with the elevator trim set to the full nose-up position. This resulted in the nose of the aircraft pitching up after rotation, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft."
Loss of control
» Independent Online
» John Miller
» SA CAA Report J10/2/6936
accident date: 24-08-1998
type: AMI DC-3-65TP
registration: ZS-NKK
accident date: 24-08-1998
type: AMI DC-3-65TP
registration: YV-32CP
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 24 August 1998 |
| Time: | 16:46 |
| Type: |  Aero Modifications AMI DC-3-65TP |
| Operating for: | Speed Service Couriers |
| Leased from: | Airworld |
| Registration: | ZS-NKK |
| MSN: | 13143 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AR |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport (PRY) ( South Africa)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport (PRY/FAWB), South Africa |
| Durban-Louis Botha Airport (DUR/FADN), South Africa |
The Turbo DC-3 had just undergone a Phase 1 inspection at Pretoria. Final power assurance checks were carried out on the aircrafts engines on the morning of the accident. The AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) trimmed the elevator-trim tab to the Full Nose UP position in order to reduce the stick forces required to hold the tail down during the engine power checks, but he did not set the elevator trim back to the neutral position on completion of the checks. The AME was requested by the pilot(s) to remove the aileron and elevator external gust locks and the landing gear down lock pins. He left the rudder lock in place, which was later removed by one of the pilots. The pilot(s) did not carry out a pre-flight inspection. The aircraft then taxied to runway 11 for departure on a mail express flight. At a height of 20 m the aircraft climbed steeply before crashing in a left wing-low attitude. The plane then caught fire. The pilot-in-command, who did not wear a shoulder harness, sustained fatal injuries.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "It would appear that the accident was as a result of the PIC taking-off with the elevator trim set to the full nose-up position. This resulted in the nose of the aircraft pitching up after rotation, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Elevator issueLoss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/98 (#122)» Independent Online
» John Miller
» SA CAA Report J10/2/6936
Photos
accident date: 24-08-1998
type: AMI DC-3-65TP
registration: ZS-NKK
accident date: 24-08-1998
type: AMI DC-3-65TP
registration: YV-32CP
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 Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport to Durban-Louis Botha Airport as the crow flies is 548 km (342 miles).
Distance from Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport to Durban-Louis Botha Airport as the crow flies is 548 km (342 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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