Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Forks, North Dakota 58201
Tuesady, June 25, 1996 14:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The captain reported that the airplane was at 5,000 feet mean sea level, the propeller rpm was 100 percent, and other engine indications were normal. A loss of power on the number two engine was 'sudden and immediate.' The flightcrew declared an emergency and recovered visually to Grand Forks without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed eleven impact marks to the right side of the fuselage. Two of the impacts penetrated the fuselage side. Examination of the engine revealed evidence of overload failure and penetration of the gear box. Fatigue fractures in the second stage compressor impeller rim emanated from a heat affected, rubbed area on the impeller blades. A corresponding rubbed area was evident on the impeller shroud, and aluminum material was fused to the titanium impeller. No evidence of material defects were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

insufficient clearance between the second stage compressor impeller and the shroud. A factor was the subsequent fatigue failure of the impeller.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRAND FORKS
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58201
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
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) 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 19
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1663
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1520
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2692P
NTSB Number CHI96FA216
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Fairchild
Aircraft Model SA227AC
Aircraft Series Identifier SA227AC
Aircraft Serial Number AC6588
Certified Max Gross Weight 16000
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 21
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jun 9 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 125
Airframe Hours 16127
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEE FARM CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PK 83 WOOSTER HEIGHTS
Aircraft Owner City DANBURY
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06810
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MESABA AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7501 26TH AVE
Operator City MINNEAPOLIS
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55450
Operator Code MALA
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 KGFK
Departure City
Departure State ND
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KMSP
Destination City MINNEAPOLIS
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 --