Embraer EMB-120RT N16729
9 December 1992 · Houston, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 December 1992 at about 21:48 local time, a Embraer EMB-120RT registered N16729, operated by Britt Airways, Inc., was involved in an incident near Houston, Texas, United States. 18 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:48
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Houston, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Intercontinental (IAH)
- Coordinates
- 29.9907, -95.3503
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-120RT
- Registration
- N16729
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Britt Airways, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Alexandria
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW93IA048
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Probable cause
THE ASSIGNED MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO REINSTALL THE ATTACHMENT SCREWS AND THE QUALITY INSPECTOR'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE COMPLETED WORK. A FACTOR WAS THE COMPLACENCY OF THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE FIRST OFFICER FELT A VIBRATION THROUGH THE AIRFRAME AND THE CONTROL COLUMN. THE CAPTAIN FELT THE SAME VIBRATION AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 14 SCREWS WERE MISSING FROM THE LEFT UPPER AILERON VANE AND THAT THE SCREWS HAD BEEN LEFT OUT AFTER THE VANE WAS PARTIALLY REMOVED DURING MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. THE ASSIGNED MECHANIC DID NOT REPLACE THE SCREWS AND THE QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR FAILED TO SEE THAT THEY WERE MISSING DURING HIS INSPECTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Embraer EMB-120RT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr 1991 | Embraer EMB-120RT | Brunswick, Georgia, United States | Atlantic Southeast Airlines | Fatal | 23 |
| 21 Aug 1995 | Embraer EMB-120RT | Carrollton, Georgia, United States | Atlantic Southeast Airlines | Fatal | 8 |
| 9 Jan 1997 | Embraer EMB-120RT | Monroe, Michigan, United States | Comair, Inc. | Fatal | 29 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft B19 | Bonham, Texas, United States | ARI BEN Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1992 | Alvin D Campbell KR-2 | San Marcos, Texas, United States | Alvin D. Campbell | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jan 1992 | Cessna 205A | Spring, Texas, United States | Owens, Grady | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Mooney M20J | Austin, Texas, United States | Kissock, Darryl C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Denton, Texas, United States | Thomas A. Tweeddale | No injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1992 | Robinson R22 | Alpine, Texas, United States | Helicopters International | Fatal | 1 |