Narrative:
When the airplane had accelerated between 40 and 60 knots, the pilot released the nose wheel steering button. At this time the pilot observed that the airplane was veering left of the runway's centerline. He rejected the takeoff by retarding the power levers into ground idle position and applied brakes. The Metro continued veering left, so he applied full right rudder and full reverse on the right engine in an attempt at regaining directional control. The plane veered off the side of the runway, traversed a dirt field, an active taxiway, and a vehicle service road. The airplane came to rest about 192 feet south of the runway's left edge. The forward half of the airplane's fuselage was imbedded in an airport T-hangar, damaging three light aircraft and a car.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage and was probably damaged beyond repair.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control during the rejected takeoff. The loss of directional control was caused by the crew's failure to follow prescribed pretakeoff and takeoff checklist procedures to ensure the both propellers were out of the start locks. Contributing factors were the failure of the crew to follow normal company procedures during takeoff, the failure of the flightcrew to recognize an abnormal propeller condition during takeoff, and a lack of crew coordination in performing a rejected takeoff."
Runway excursion
accident date: 29-09-2002
type: Swearingen SA227-AC Metro II
registration: N343AE
accident date: 29-09-2002
type: Swearingen SA227-AC Metro II
registration: N3112K
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 29 September 2002 |
| Time: | 09:13 |
| Type: |  Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III |
| Operator: | Skylink Charter |
| Registration: | N343AE |
| MSN: | AC-554 |
| First flight: | 1983 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 30660 |
| Cycles: | 44949 |
| Engines: | 2 Garrett TPE331-11U-611G |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 19 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 21 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Hawthorne Airport, CA (HHR) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Hawthorne Airport, CA (HHR/KHHR), United States of America |
| Grand Canyon-National Park Airport, AZ (GCN/KGCN), United States of America |
When the airplane had accelerated between 40 and 60 knots, the pilot released the nose wheel steering button. At this time the pilot observed that the airplane was veering left of the runway's centerline. He rejected the takeoff by retarding the power levers into ground idle position and applied brakes. The Metro continued veering left, so he applied full right rudder and full reverse on the right engine in an attempt at regaining directional control. The plane veered off the side of the runway, traversed a dirt field, an active taxiway, and a vehicle service road. The airplane came to rest about 192 feet south of the runway's left edge. The forward half of the airplane's fuselage was imbedded in an airport T-hangar, damaging three light aircraft and a car.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage and was probably damaged beyond repair.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control during the rejected takeoff. The loss of directional control was caused by the crew's failure to follow prescribed pretakeoff and takeoff checklist procedures to ensure the both propellers were out of the start locks. Contributing factors were the failure of the crew to follow normal company procedures during takeoff, the failure of the flightcrew to recognize an abnormal propeller condition during takeoff, and a lack of crew coordination in performing a rejected takeoff."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Rejected takeoffRunway excursion
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
accident date: 29-09-2002
type: Swearingen SA227-AC Metro II
registration: N343AE
accident date: 29-09-2002
type: Swearingen SA227-AC Metro II
registration: N3112K
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 Hawthorne Airport, CA to Grand Canyon-National Park Airport, AZ as the crow flies is 603 km (377 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Hawthorne Airport, CA to Grand Canyon-National Park Airport, AZ as the crow flies is 603 km (377 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
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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