Michiana Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

South Bend, Indiana 46628
Wednesday, January 19, 1994 17:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AN AUTO SHUTDOWN OF THE AUXILIARY POWER UNIT (APU) OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM WITH THE APU SO THE CAPTAIN ATTEMPTED A RESTART TO NO AVAIL. THE COCKPIT CREW WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE APU WAS ON FIRE. THE CAPTAIN BLEW THE APU FIRE BOTTLE AND THE AIRPLANE WAS EVACUATED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE APU REVEALED A HOLE THROUGH THE TURBINE NOZZLE VANE PLATFORM WHICH RESULTED IN THERMAL FAILURE OF THE TURBINE WHEEL BLADES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

an internal failure of the auxiliary power unit.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 1/19/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SOUTH BEND
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46628
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MICHIANA REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SBN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 799
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1740 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SBN
Elevation of weather observation facility 799
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 33
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5001
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 20 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N857AW
NTSB Number CHI94IA066
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BRITISH AEROSPACE
Aircraft Model ATP
Aircraft Series Identifier ATP
Aircraft Serial Number 2034
Certified Max Gross Weight 50550
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 68
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jan 19 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4687
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR WISCONSIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 203 CHALLENGER DR.
Aircraft Owner City APPLETON
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54915
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name UNITED FEEDER SERVICES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 9275 GENAIRE DR.
Operator City ST. LOUIS
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 63134
Operator Code UFS
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code SBN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORD
Destination City CHICAGO
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 --