Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Detroit, Michigan 48242
Friday, January 8, 1993 12:03 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AS THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED THROUGH ABOUT 200 FEET DURING DEPARTURE, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. THE FLIGHT CREW PERFORMED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TRANSFER TUBES LOOSENED AND SEPARATED FROM THEIR SLEEVES, WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO BE DISCHARGED IN THE NACELLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE FUEL TRANSFER TUBE SYSTEM, WHICH LOOSENED/DISCONNECTED DURING ENGINE OPERATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 1/8/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1203
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DETROIT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48242
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DETROIT METROPOLITAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DTW
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 639
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID DTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 639
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1700
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 9
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5010
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 8 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52113
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:06PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N826MA
NTSB Number CHI93IA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DHC-8-102
Aircraft Series Identifier DHC-8-102
Aircraft Serial Number 330
Certified Max Gross Weight 34500
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 39
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Dec 16 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 128
Airframe Hours 987
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAINIER AIRCRAFT LEASING, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7755 EAST MARGINAL WAY
Aircraft Owner City SEATTLE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98109
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MESABA AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7501 26TH AVENUE SOUTH
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/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DTW
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1201
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ROA
Destination City ROANOKE
Destination State VA
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 --