Narrative:
While descending for landing at Baton Rouge, the captain actively moved the power levers from the flight idle gate into the beta range for undetermined reasons. The propellers and engines experienced extreme overspeed, necessitating a power-off emergency landing at night and the airplane ran off the end of a 5,000-ft runway. Although the design and certification of the power levers met existing requirements, those requirements were inadequate because they permitted a design that did not prevent movement into the beta range in flight.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captains movement of the power levers below flight idle in flight, the inadequate certification requirements and consequent design of the airplanes power levers that permitted them to be moved below the flight idle position into the beta range, either intentionally or inadvertently, while in flight, and the inadequate action taken to require a positive means to prevent beta operation on airplanes for which such operation is prohibited."
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 7.3.94 (29/30)
» Flight International
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-94-61 through -63
» NTSB/AAR-94/06
» Scramble 181
accident date: 01-02-1994
type: Saab 340B
registration: N349SB
accident date: 01-02-1994
type: Saab 340B
registration: N349SB
accident date: 01-02-1994
type: Saab 340B
registration: N349SB
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 1 February 1994 |
| Time: | 21:40 |
| Type: |  Saab 340B |
| Operated by: | Simmons Airlines |
| On behalf of: | American Eagle |
| Registration: | N349SB |
| MSN: | 340B-349 |
| First flight: | 1993 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 528 |
| Engines: | 2 General Electric CT7-9B |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 26 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | New Roads-False River Regional Airport, LA (HZR) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX (DFW/KDFW), United States of America |
| Baton Rouge-Ryan Airport, LA (BTR/KBTR), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 3641 |
While descending for landing at Baton Rouge, the captain actively moved the power levers from the flight idle gate into the beta range for undetermined reasons. The propellers and engines experienced extreme overspeed, necessitating a power-off emergency landing at night and the airplane ran off the end of a 5,000-ft runway. Although the design and certification of the power levers met existing requirements, those requirements were inadequate because they permitted a design that did not prevent movement into the beta range in flight.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captains movement of the power levers below flight idle in flight, the inadequate certification requirements and consequent design of the airplanes power levers that permitted them to be moved below the flight idle position into the beta range, either intentionally or inadvertently, while in flight, and the inadequate action taken to require a positive means to prevent beta operation on airplanes for which such operation is prohibited."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Forced landing on runway
Sources:
» Air Safety Week 3 October 1994 (p. 1-2)» Aviation Week & Space Technology 7.3.94 (29/30)
» Flight International
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-94-61 through -63
» NTSB/AAR-94/06
» Scramble 181
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 3 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 01-02-1994
type: Saab 340B
registration: N349SB
accident date: 01-02-1994
type: Saab 340B
registration: N349SB
accident date: 01-02-1994
type: Saab 340B
registration: N349SB
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 Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX to Baton Rouge-Ryan Airport, LA as the crow flies is 612 km (382 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX to Baton Rouge-Ryan Airport, LA as the crow flies is 612 km (382 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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