Swearingen SA226-T N636SP

Summary

On 31 March 2004 at about 23:05 local time, a Swearingen SA226-T registered N636SP was involved in an accident near Omaha, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 March 2004 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Millard Airport (MLE)

Coordinates

42.8706, -100.5494

Aircraft

Swearingen SA226-T

Registration

N636SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Millard → Council Bluffs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA096

Nobody was injured.

The pilot failed to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing factors to the accident were the runway light and the soft terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff when the airplane veered off the right side of runway 30 (3,801 feet by 75 feet, concrete). The pilot reported that he "pushed the speed levers full forward and, while holding the brakes (with rudder pedals neutral), pushed the power levers up to approximately 80% torque and released brakes, using the nosewheel steering power lever button." He reported the airplane accelerated down the runway near centerline. At approximately 50 knots, he released the nosewheel steering power lever button and the aircraft started to veer to the right. He reengaged the nosewheel steering power lever button and applied rudder, but the airplane continued to veer off the runway. He reported he initiated abort takeoff procedures, but the airplane was unable to stop on the concrete surface. The airplane struck a runway light and the nose gear collapsed in the soft dirt when it went off the runway. The on-site inspection of the accident revealed that the airplane veered off the right side of the runway approximately 720 feet from the start of the takeoff roll. Tire skid marks about 50 feet in length were observed where the airplane veered off the runway. The left skid mark was measured at nine feet right of the runway centerline. The skid marks left the runway at about a 30 - 35 degree angle. The nosewheel steering system could not be checked due to impact damage. The Pre-takeoff Checklist calls for a Steering and Alignment check prior to takeoff. The Steering and Alignment checks the operational status of the nosewheel steering system prior to takeoff, and the nose wheel steering should not be used if the airplane fails the Steering and Alignment check during the Pre-takeoff Checklist. The Swearingen Metro SA226-T Airplane Flight Manual states that if a malfunction occurs in the nose wheel steering mechanism, adequate steering "can be maintained by use of rudder, brakes, and/or differential power." The inspection of the airplane revealed no anomalies were found that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.