ASN Aircraft accident Beechcraft 1900D N240CJ Hyannis, MA
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Tuesday 26 August 2003
Time:15:40
Type:Silhouette image of generic B190 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Beechcraft 1900D
Operated by:Colgan Air
On behalf of:US Airways Express
Registration: N240CJ
MSN: UE-40
First flight: 1993
Total airframe hrs:16503
Cycles:24637
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D
Crew:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:5 km (3.1 mls) S of Hyannis, MA (   United States of America)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:Hyannis-Barnstable Airport, MA (HYA/KHYA), United States of America
Destination airport:Albany Airport, NY (ALB/KALB), United States of America
Flightnumber:9446
Narrative:
On August 23, 2003, Beech 1900D N240CJ underwent a Detail Six phase maintenance check (aft fuselage / empennage). The phase check was interrupted, and the remaining work was deferred on the morning of August 24. Ten revenue flight legs were completed that day, and the Detail Six phase check resumed on the evening of August 24, and concluded on August 26. During the check both elevator trim actuators were replaced. During this procedure the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) was not strictly followed and the elevator trim tab cable unwound off the forward drum. The forward elevator trim tab cable was then replaced. During the replacement of the cable, the maintenance personnel skipped a step in the AMM. They did not use a lead wire to assist with cable orientation. In addition, the AMM incorrectly depicted the elevator trim drum, and the depiction of the orientation of the cable around the drum was ambiguous.
On the evening of August 26, N240CJ was to be repositioned to Albany. When the flightcrew received the airplane, the captain did not address the recent cable change noted on his maintenance release. The captain also did not perform a first flight of the day checklist, which included an elevator trim check.
Shortly after takeoff from runway 24 the pitch trim control moved from 1.5 to approximately 3 degrees negative (nose down). Ten seconds later the pitch trim control moved to an approximate 7 degree negative position, where it remained for the duration of the flight. The pilot declared an emergency and reported a "runaway trim." The airplane flew in a left turn and reached an altitude of approximately 1,100 feet. The flightcrew subsequently requested to land on runway 33, upon which ATC cleared the flight to land on any runway. While attempting to return to the airport, the plane then pitched nose-down, and impacted the water at an approximate 30-degree angle. The Beech came to rest in approximately 18 feet of water, about 100 yards from the Yarmouth shore.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The improper replacement of the forward elevator trim cable, and subsequent inadequate functional check of the maintenance performed, which resulted in a reversal of the elevator trim system and a loss of control in-flight. Factors were the flightcrew's failure to follow the checklist procedures, and the aircraft manufacturer's erroneous depiction of the elevator trim drum in the maintenance manual."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year
Accident number: NYC03MA183
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Wrong installation of parts
Loss of control

Sources:
» NTSB


Photos

photo of Beechcraft-1900D-N240CJ
accident date: 26-08-2003
type: Beechcraft 1900D
registration: N240CJ
 

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 Hyannis-Barnstable Airport, MA to Albany Airport, NY as the crow flies is 312 km (195 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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