Raeford Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Raeford, North Carolina 28376
Saturday, July 9, 1994 10:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF, WHEN HE OBSERVED A LOSS OF POWER, ASSOCIATED WITH A TORQUE INDICATION OF ZERO. HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A WOODED AREA WHEN HE COULD NOT MAKE AN OPEN FIELD. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT ARM WAS LOOSE, AND THE LOCK WIRE WAS NOT IN PLACE. THE ARM WAS POSITIONED SO THAT A MAXIMUM POWER DEMAND FROM THE THROTTLE WOULD CORRESPOND TO AN IDLE POWER DEMAND AT THE FUEL CONTROL. THE ENGINE UNDERWENT A 100 HOUR INSPECTION, BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, 8 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE INSPECTION CHECKLIST CALLED FOR EXAMINING THE FUEL CONTROL LINKAGE FOR SECURITY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNSAFETIED AND DISCONNECTED FUEL CONTROL ARM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/9/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City RAEFORD
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28376
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RAEFORD MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5W4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation 304
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1048 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID FAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 190
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1443
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 9 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N111FX
NTSB Number ATL94LA133
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PILATUS
Aircraft Model PC-6/B1-H2
Aircraft Series Identifier PC-6/B1-H2
Aircraft Serial Number 701
Certified Max Gross Weight 4850
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 9963
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FREEFALL EXPRESS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1300 FLIGHTLINE BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City DELAND
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32724
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FREEFALL EXPRESS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1300 FLIGHTLINE BLVD.
Operator City DELAND
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32724
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 5W4
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 5W4
Destination City
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 22
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --