Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 N275BC

Summary

On 10 March 1998 at about 14:50 local time, a Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 registered N275BC, operated by Flagship Airlines, was involved in an incident near Fort Myers, Florida, United States. 47 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

10 March 1998 at 14:50

Classification

Incident

Location

Fort Myers, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.5107, -81.6994

Aircraft

Aerospatiale ATR-42-300

Registration

N275BC

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Flagship Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tampa → Miami

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98IA100

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the No. 1 generator field excitation return wire terminal lug due to improper installation of the field excitation return wire by maintenance personnel; the subsequent failure of the No. 2 generator due to overvoltage, caused by the momentary closure of the No. 1 generator contactor, as a result of the flight crew's attempt to reset the No. 1 generator, while an overvoltage condition existed at its POR, due to the shorted failure of the No. 1 GCU diode CR17; and the rapid failure of the aircraft's main battery, accelerated by its existing depleted condition, following an extended period of inadequate charging, due to a damaged electrical system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The No. 1 generator failed while in cruise flight. When the flighcrew attempted to reset the No. 1 generator, the No. 2 generator also failed. Attempts to reset either of the generators were unsuccessful and after about 1 minute the main battery failed. The flightcrew switched to the emergency battery and made a precautionary landing. Postlanding examination showed the No. 1 generator had failed due to failure of the field excitation wire lug which was caused by improper installation of the wire. The aircraft was on the second flight since the No. 1 generator was changed. The No. 2 generator operated normally in postlanding tests. The main battery was found to be discharged. The battery was returned to service after charging. After the incident the aircraft continued to discharge the main battery and the engine start switch was found defective causing the main battery to discharge.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.