Beechcraft E90 N16NM

Summary

On 18 January 1999 at about 19:10 local time, a Beechcraft E90 registered N16NM was involved in an incident near Clovis, New Mexico, United States. 3 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

18 January 1999 at 19:10

Classification

Incident

Location

Clovis, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft E90

Registration

N16NM

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN99IA033

Nobody was injured.

Total failure of the elevator control cable due to a short circuit from chafing against an adjoining electrical cable, and failure of maintenance personnel to detect the problem during an AAIP phase inspection.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The air ambulance flight was transporting a male infant in an incubator to Clovis, New Mexico. During the descent into Clovis, the control yoke moved to the full forward position. The pilot eased back on the yoke and the nose pitched up. The pilot was able to maintain control by the use of power and elevator trim, and elected to return to Albuquerque, where an uneventful landing was made. Postincident examination disclosed a drooping wire bundle beneath the pilot's seat, at F.S. 122. The insulation around the H16A10 wire (copilot's windshield heat) had chafed against the elevator down cable (part number 50-524439-31), causing a short circuit. Although the pilot did not detect the odor of smoke, the elevator cable was burnt through and had separated. No circuit breakers were opened nor were any fuses blown.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.