Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 N40AM

Summary

On 16 May 1996 at about 13:53 local time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 registered N40AM was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 May 1996 at 13:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

William P. Hobby (HOU)

Coordinates

29.7604, -95.3793

Aircraft

Mitsubishi MU-2B-40

Registration

N40AM

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Austin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA215

1 person had minor injuries.

failure of the pilot to obtain/maintain proper airspeed and flap setting for single engine flight. A factor relating to the accident was: Loss of power in the left engine for an undetermined reason.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after takeoff, the airplane yawed to the left, and he observed that the torquemeter for the left engine was fluctuating. He feathered the left engine and began turning back toward the airport. The pilot reported that he maintained 20 degrees of flaps and the airplane would not climb over 200 feet AGL. According to the manufacturer's directions, if the flap setting is over 5 degrees, climb performance is not guaranteed. The pilot also reported that his airspeed was 115 knots. The manufacturer's directions called for maintaining at least 140 knots. The pilot elected to land on the departure runway, in the opposite direction from which he had departed. He approached the runway 90 degrees to the centerline, and performed a 90 degree turn to align the airplane with the runway. He delayed gear extension in order to reach the runway. When he extended the landing gear, the airplane stalled and touched down before the landing gear reached the 'down and locked' position. Subsequently, the gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the runway. The owner did not make the engine available for further testing after the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.