Textron TTX INC. T240 N420WT

Summary

On 28 January 2022 at about 22:25 local time, a Textron TTX INC. T240 registered N420WT, operated by SarkAir Inc., was involved in an accident near Ravendale, California, United States. 3 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

28 January 2022 at 22:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Ravendale, California, United States

Nearest airport

Ravendale (O39)

Coordinates

40.8094, -120.3655

Aircraft

Textron TTX INC. T240

Registration

N420WT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

SarkAir Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Susanville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA090

1 person had minor injuries.

The inadequate maintenance and inspection of the engine induction system, which resulted in the separation of the right induction tube from the turbocharger compressor outlet and the subsequent loss of engine power during departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instructor pilot reported that during takeoff about 100 ft above ground level (agl) and near the end of the runway, the engine sustained a sudden loss of engine power. The pilot lowered the nose and extended the flaps for the off-airport forced landing. The airplane impacted the snow-covered terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane indicated that the right induction tube connecting the turbocharger compressor outlet to the intercooler inlet had separated from the turbocharger compressor outlet flange. Two inches of the induction tube was installed into the 3-inch-long rubber coupling, leaving only 1 inch remaining to be installed on the turbocharger compressor outlet flange. It is likely that when the engine was at high RPM during the takeoff climb, the improperly installed lower rubber coupling separated from the turbocharger compressor outlet flange, resulting in the loss of engine power. The engine was installed on an engine test stand and it ran successfully at various RPM settings. The engine test run revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Maintenance records indicated that the last 100-hour inspection was performed two days before the accident. During this inspection the induction tubes would have been removed and inspected.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.