Fairchild SA 227-AC N342AE

Summary

On 25 August 1992 at about 10:15 local time, a Fairchild SA 227-AC registered N342AE, operated by Lone Star Airlines, was involved in an accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 August 1992 at 10:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Hot Springs Memorial (HOT)

Coordinates

34.4504, -93.0996

Aircraft

Fairchild SA 227-AC

Registration

N342AE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Lone Star Airlines

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

FTW92FA218

3 people died.

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ASSURE PROPER TRAVEL DIRECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROLS AFTER BEING MADE AWARE OF THE NATURE OF THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT WAS BEING FLOWN FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 87-02-02 REQUIRING THE MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF ALL PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES. FOLLOWING LIFT-OFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE START A RAPID ROLL TO THE RIGHT UNTIL INITIAL IMPACT WAS MADE WITH THE GROUND BY THE RIGHT WING TIP. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE A HALF TURN IN THE ROUTING OF THE REPLACED FLIGHT CONTROL CABLE WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED ON BOTH CONTROL COLUMNS WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE AILERONS OPERATING IN REVERSE OF THE COMMANDED INPUT. THE PASSENGER WAS THE QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR WHO HAD INSPECTED AND SIGNED OFF THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. ACCORDING TO OTHER COMPANY PERSONNEL, HE HAD BRIEFED THE CREW PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT ON THE PURPOSE OF THE TEST FLIGHT AND THE EXTENT OF THE MAINTENANCE THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD UNDERGONE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.