Howard TIERRA II N351R
23 June 1991 · Cambridge Jct, Michigan, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 June 1991 at about 22:35 local time, a Howard TIERRA II registered N351R, operated by Gregory A. Moore, was involved in an accident near Cambridge Jct, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Cambridge Jct, Michigan, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.1001, -84.2408
- Aircraft
- Howard TIERRA II
- Registration
- N351R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gregory A. Moore
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Onsted → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI91DEC02
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
ENTANGLEMENT OF THE EMERGENCY BALLISTIC PARACHUTE WITH THE AIRPLANE'S PROPELLER SHAFT AFTER IT DEPLOYED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE AIRCRAFT'S WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMIT WAS EXCEEDED BY THE PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL WHEN IT BEGAN A LEFT HAND TURN. WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING THIS TURN, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DESCEND, AND THE BALLISTIC PARACHUTE DEPLOYED. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED INTO TREES WITH A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PARACHUTE SHROUD LINE, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE WING'S MAIN SPAR, HAD ENTANGLED ITSELF AROUND THE PUSHER ENGINE'S PROPELLER SHAFT. A WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE WAS APROXIMATELY 200 POUNDS ABOVE ITS GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT, AND ITS CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS .4 OF AN INCH FORWARD OF THE FORWARD LIMIT. THE PARACHUTE WAS PAST DUE FOR ITS TWO YEAR INSPECTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Eximous Flying Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 May 1991 | Robinson R22 BETA | Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States | Lutz, Robert A | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 May 1991 | Cessna 182L | Port Huron, Michigan, United States | Douglas H. Mowat | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 1991 | Cessna 152 | Pontiac, Michigan, United States | Kitze Avaition, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1991 | Cessna 177 | New Lothrop, Michigan, United States | Patrick J. Corcoran | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1991 | Cessna 421B | Battle Creek, Michigan, United States | Aviation Specialist, Inc. | No injuries | - |