ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 169409
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Sunday 31 August 2014 |
| Time: | 14:55 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-25-260 Pawnee |
| Owner/operator: | Advertising Air Force |
| Registration: | N254AB |
| MSN: | 25-7556048 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1651 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-G1A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | South of Albert Whitted Airport (KSPG), St Petersburg, Florida -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Banner and glider towing |
| Departure airport: | St. Petersburg, FL (SPG) |
| St. Petersburg, FL (SPG) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During a banner-tow pickup, the commercial pilot reported to the tower controller that the banner-tow rope had become entangled in the rudder and that he needed to release the rope. According to witnesses, after picking up the banner, the airplane made a sharp left turn and then spiraled into the water. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the banner-tow rope had become entangled between the left elevator and horizontal stabilizer.
A review of the company training manual noted that the banner-tow rope must remain taught before the pilot deploys the hook or the rope to prevent the entanglement of the hook or rope in the tail control surfaces and restriction of movement. A review of GPS data showed that the airplane made an immediate right turn to pick up the banner while the pilot was deploying the hook. It is likely that the pilot’s improper deployment of the hook while simultaneously turning the airplane caused the entanglement of the tow rope in the elevator.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper deployment of the banner-tow hook, which resulted in it becoming entangled between the left elevator and horizontal stabilizer, restricted the movement of the elevator, and led to a loss of airplane control.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 12 August 2010 | N254AB | Aerial Banners Inc | 0 | St. Petersburg, FL | |
sub |
| Fuel exhaustion | ||||||
| 22 December 2017 | N454AB | 0 | Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach, FL | |
unk | |
| 25 May 2023 | N454AB | Aerial Banners North Inc | 0 | Hollywood-North Perry Airport (HWO/KHWO), North Perry, FL | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Aug-2014 20:42 | gerard57 | Added |
| 31-Aug-2014 21:05 | Aerossurance | Updated [Phase, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Sep-2014 07:01 | RyanVHS | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator] |
| 01-Sep-2014 07:01 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 01-Sep-2014 16:54 | Aerossurance | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 02-Sep-2014 15:45 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Phase, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 30-Nov-2017 19:00 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation