Short Brothers SD3-60 N383MQ

Summary

On 3 June 1988 at about 23:25 local time, a Short Brothers SD3-60 registered N383MQ, operated by Simmons Airlines, was involved in an incident near Madison, Wisconsin, United States. 21 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 June 1988 at 23:25

Classification

Incident

Location

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

43.1000, -89.3102

Aircraft

Short Brothers SD3-60

Registration

N383MQ

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Simmons Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chicago → Madison

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI88IA129

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE RIGHT OUTBOARD FLAP POSITION SIGNALLING CABLE DUE TO CHAFFING INITIATED BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION/RIGGING BY A MANUFACTURER'S VENDOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE ON A STABILIZED FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT ROLL WHEN THE FLAP SETTING WAS INCREASED FROM FIVE TO FIFTEEN DEGREES. THE CONDITION WAS ALLEVIATED WHEN THE FLAPS WERE RESET TO FIVE DEGREES. POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT OUTBOARD FLAP POSITION SIGNALLING CABLE HAD FAILED. INSPECTION OF THE OPERATOR'S FLEET FOUND TWO ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT WITH CHAFFED/FRAYED FLAP POSITION SIGNALLING CABLES. ALL CHAFFED/FRAYED CABLES WERE INSTALLED ON AIRCRAFT WHICH THE OPERATOR HAD PURCHASED AS A SERIES. ON THIS SERIES OF AIRCRAFT THE FLAPS AND CONTROL RIGGING WERE INSTALLED BY THE VENDOR WHICH MANUFACTURES THE WINGS, RATHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AIRFRAME, AS IS NORMALLY THE CASE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.