Bethel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bethel, Alaska 99559
Monday, July 13, 1992 12:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE ROLLED 200-300 FT BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE IN A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. IT MAINTAINED THIS ATTITUDE, MADE A RIGHT, THEN A LEFT BANK, AND FELL TO THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE CARGO CONSISTED OF EIGHT 55-GAL DRUMS OF FUEL, LAID ON THEIR SIDE AND SECURED BY ONE CARGO STRAP RUNNING FORE AND AFT AND ANOTHER CARGO STRAP RUNNING DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE BARRELS. THE TIE DOWN RING ULTIMATE STRENGTH RATING WAS 1600 POUNDS. THE WEIGHT OF THE CARGO WAS 2863 POUNDS. THREE OF THE CARGO HOOKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARGO STRAPS WERE FOUND STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIE DOWN RINGS, AND ONE HOOK AND TIE DOWN RING WERE NOT LOCATED. POST-IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE CARGO STRAPS, AND THE BARRELS WERE STREWN RANDOMLY THROUGH THE CABIN/CARGO AREA. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE DAVIS TIE DOWN RING INSTALLATION IS NOT APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MODIFICATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED UNDER A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. THE LOGBOOKS SHOWED ONLY AN ENTRY. THE CERTIFICATED MAX GROSS WEIGHT WAS CALCULATED TO HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED BY 324.8 LBS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE SECURITY OF THE CARGO WHICH SHIFTED REARWARD DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OVER GROSS WEIGHT CONDITION, AND THE IMPROPER ALTERATION OF THE TIE DOWN RINGS BY THE OVERHAULING MAINTENANCE FACILITY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone --
Event City BETHEL
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BETHEL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BET
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 123
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1231 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID BET
Elevation of weather observation facility 123
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 28
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1018
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50997
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N20086
NTSB Number ANC92FA106
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Short Brothers
Aircraft Model SC7
Aircraft Series Identifier SC7
Aircraft Serial Number SH-1918
Certified Max Gross Weight 12500
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 20
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 14 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 94
Airframe Hours 6390
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCOPE LEASING INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 150 E. WILSON BRIDGE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43055
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ARCTIC CIRCLE AIR SERVICE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 190228
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99519
Operator Code ACSA
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BET
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VAK
Destination City CHEVAK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 6398
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --