Fairchild SA227-AC N165SW

Summary

On 5 January 1997 at about 19:43 local time, a Fairchild SA227-AC registered N165SW, operated by FNG Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, United States. 21 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 January 1997 at 19:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Bullhead City, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Fairchild SA227-AC

Registration

N165SW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

FNG Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Beach → Grand Canyon

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97FA082

2 people had minor injuries.

failure of the pilot(s) to use 'override' ignition as prescribed by checklist procedures during an encounter with icing conditions, which subsequently led to ice ingestion and dual engine flame-outs. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather (icing) conditions, the accumulation of airframe/engine ice, and lack of suitable terrain in the emergency landing area.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After executing a missed approach at the Grand Canyon Airport, the pilots diverted to the Bullhead City Airport. The pilots reported that minimal icing conditions were encountered with about 1/8 inch of ice accumulating on the aircraft wings. The pilots stated they cycled the deice boots to shed ice. They did not observe ice on the propeller spinners, and they did not activate the engines' 'override' ignition systems, as required by the airplane's flight manual. Use of 'override' ignition was required for flight into visible moisture at or below +5 degrees Celsius (+41 degrees Fahrenheit) to prevent ice ingestion/flameouts. Subsequently, both engines flamed out as the airplane was on about a 3 mile final approach for landing with the landing gear and flaps extended. The aircraft was destroyed during an off-airport landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.