Cessna T207A N73780

Summary

On 24 March 1998 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna T207A registered N73780 was involved in an accident near Monument Valley, Utah, United States. 6 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, 3 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

24 March 1998 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Monument Valley, Utah, United States

Coordinates

37.0807, -110.2491

Aircraft

Cessna T207A

Registration

N73780

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monument Valley → Page

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98FA157

3 people were seriously injured.

The engine's total power loss due to the induction air ducting separating because of inadequate maintenance by company personnel. Factors were the failure of the manufacturer to provide non-standard operating procedures in their airplane's information manual, and the failure of the FAA to require non-standard operating procedures in the manufacturer's airplane information manual; and the soft, sandy, unsuitable terrain on which to perform a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The takeoff for the sightseeing flight seemed normal until approximately 500 feet agl. The pilot observed the airspeed decreasing and the manifold pressure drop from 36.5 inches to 23 inches. He turned the auxiliary fuel pump on and was unable to restart the engine. He performed a forced landing in rough, sandy terrain. Postcrash examination of the airplane revealed that the upper induction tube, which conducted compressed turbocharger intake air to the throttle body, was found separated at a rubber connecting sleeve approximately 10 inches prior to the throttle body. Scenic Airlines maintenance personnel had installed a remanufactured zero time engine on July 30, 1996. The T207A Information Manual did not provide abnormal operating procedures for continued engine operation following turbocharger failure. There is no current FAA requirement to include information regarding the proper operation of an airplane by the aircraft manufacturer in the event of a loss of compressed induction air while flying a turbocharged airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.