Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spokane, Washington 99212
Wednesday, March 31, 1999 19:43 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight crew reported that, while in cruise flight, the number 1 hydraulic (utility) fluid quantity dropped below the low red mark on the gauge. The flight crew switched to the secondary hydraulic system and diverted to a nearby airport, where a landing was made without incident. Maintenance personnel inspected the aircraft and found a hydraulic line to the flap drive motor was chafed through and leaking. The flight crew reported that this was the second time that day that the number 1 hydraulic system fluid level had dropped. Prior to the last departure, maintenance personnel had serviced the system with hydraulic fluid. On that occasion, the flight crew ran the engines and cycled the flight controls while maintenance personnel looked for leaks. No leaks were found and the aircraft departed on the next leg of the scheduled flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A chafed hydraulic line.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 3/31/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1943
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SPOKANE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99212
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1956 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID GEG
Elevation of weather observation facility 2372
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 44
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5002
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:27AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N477AU
NTSB Number SEA99IA045
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Fokker
Aircraft Model F.28 MK 4000
Aircraft Series Identifier F.28 MK 40
Aircraft Serial Number 11226
Certified Max Gross Weight 71000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 69
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ATLANTIC CREDIT CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX NC1-002-38-20
Aircraft Owner City CHARLOTTE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28255
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HORIZON AIR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8070 NE AIRTRANS WAY
Operator City PORTLAND
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97218
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BIL
Departure City BILLINGS
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1928
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SEA
Destination City SEATTLE
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --