Grumman G-73 N604SS

Summary

On 28 October 1986 at about 13:15 local time, a Grumman G-73 registered N604SS was involved in an accident near St. Croix. 15 people were on board and one died, 5 were seriously injured, 9 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

28 October 1986 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Croix

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Grumman G-73

Registration

N604SS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Christiansted → St. Thomas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA87FA013

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLTS LOST AILERON CONTROL SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE IN A LEFT TURN. THE LEFT TURNING TENDENCIES OF THE ACFT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED AND THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN THE CARRIBEAN SEA. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE LEFT AILERON CONTROL CABLE WAS TRAPPED WITHIN A BUNDLE OF ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CABLES. THIS OCCURRED WHEN AN ELECTRICAL CABLE FROM A REVERSE CURRENT RELAY IN THE RIGHT WING TO THE MAIN JUNCTION BOX IN THE LEFT CABIN AREA AT THE CENTER WING WAS CHANGED AND SECURED. THE AILERON CABLE CHAFED THROUGH THE PROTECTIVE COVER OF THE LARGE ELECTRICAL CABLE. WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE METAL ELECTRICAL CABLE THE AILERON CABLE ARCHED AT SEVERAL POINTS AND SEPARATED AT TWO DIFFERENT POINTS CAUSING A LOSS OF AILERON CONTROL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.