Grand Rapids Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
Monday, August 30, 1993 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT CREW WAS ON A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT. THE CREW EXPERIENCED A RESTRICTION TO AILERON CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND. ON APPROACH TO LANDING THERE WAS LIMITED AILERON CONTROL TO THE LEFT, AND NO AILERON CONTROL TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SUCCESSFULLY. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AILERON CABLE DISCLOSED THAT IT WAS BROKEN. AN INDEPENDENT METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE CABLE REVEALED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONSISTENT WITH IT HAVING COME OFF THE PULLEY AND WEARING AGAINST A SMALL DIAMETER STEEL PIN. AFTER THE INCIDENT, A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE AIRLINE'S FLEET WAS CONDUCTED ON THE AILERON CONTROL CABLES AND NO SIMILAR DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the fractured aileron cable and other maintenance personnel's inadequate maintenance/adjustment.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/30/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRAND RAPIDS
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55744
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND RAPIDS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GPZ
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 1355
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1225 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GPZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1355
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2100
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 16
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5049
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1310
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N446MA
NTSB Number CHI93IA382
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name FAIRCHILD
Aircraft Model SA-227-AC
Aircraft Series Identifier SA-227-AC
Aircraft Serial Number AC-693
Certified Max Gross Weight 12000
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 12
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 11069
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NATIONASBANC LEASING CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 400 EAST PRATT ST SUITE 846
Aircraft Owner City BALTIMORE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21202
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TVF
Departure City THIEF RVE FALLS
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1214
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 34
Runway Length 5755
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --