Beechcraft B90 N181LL
5 April 1988 · St. Paul, Minnesota, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 5 April 1988 at about 20:15 local time, a Beechcraft B90 registered N181LL was involved in an accident near St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Coordinates
- 44.9297, -93.0804
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft B90
- Registration
- N181LL
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Minot → St. Paul
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI88FA091
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Probable cause
MECHANICAL FAILURE AND STICKING OF THE PILOTS THUMB OPERATED TRIM SWITCH CAUSING NOSE DOWN PITCH COMMAND. THE FAILURE OF THE CABIN HEATER AND THE LOW CABIN TEMPERATURE ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS AN AIR AMBULANCE WHEN IT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN UNCOMMANDED HARD PITCHOVER. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL CONDITIONS ABOVE A SOLID CLOUD LAYER USING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES. THE AIRPLANE RECOVERED FROM THE EXCURSION AND CONTINUED ON TO ITS DESTINATION. THE ATP RATED PILOT, THREE MEDICAL ATTENDANTS AND ONE PATIENT WERE NOT INJURED. TESTING OF THE PILOT'S WHEEL TRIM SWITCH SHOWED THE SWITCH WOULD STICK IN THE CLOSED OR ACTUATED POSITION AND NOT RETURN TO THE 'CENTER OFF' POSITION. THIS OCCURRED DURING TEMPERATURE CYCLING FROM ROOM TEMPERATURE TO BELOW FREEZING AND BACK AGAIN. THE CABIN HEATER HAD FAILED WITH AN OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE OF -26 DEGS CELSIUS AND THE CABIN WAS COLD.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft B90 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug 1987 | Beechcraft B90 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft B90 | Waynesville, Ohio, United States | West Tennessee Skydivers | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Dec 1992 | Beechcraft B90 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Sioux Valley Hospital Assn. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1983 | Beechcraft B90 | Burlington, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1993 | Beechcraft B90 | Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States | MTC Leasing | No injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1993 | Beechcraft B90 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | NKC Hospitals, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 1988 | Beechcraft A36 | St Paul, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1988 | Cessna 172L | Buffalo, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jan 1988 | Cessna 172 | Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, United States | Marcel D. Vaudrin | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Jan 1988 | Piper PA-28-181 | Mankato, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Oct 1988 | Cessna 120 | St Peter, Minnesota, United States | Randell Goebel | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 1988 | Piper PA-24-180 | Alexandria, Minnesota, United States | IRA Hanson | Serious injuries | - |