Muskegon County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Muskegon, Michigan 49441
Saturday, September 14, 1991 18:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN AND COCKPIT. THE CREW MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT COMMANDED AN EVACUATION, ON THE CAPTAIN'S ORDER, THROUGH THE REAR EXITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES (A BROKEN ANKLE) DURING THE EVACUATION. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILED BEARING IN THE LEFT ENGINE. A SHAFT SHIFTED AND ALLOWED THE DESTRUCTION OF AN OIL SEAL. OIL ENTERED THE CABIN AIR SYSTEM AND WAS EMITTED IN TO THE CABIN AND COCKPIT AS SMOKE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, OF THE NUMBER FOUR BEARING IN THE HIGH PRESSURE SPOOL OF THE ENGINE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/14/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1805
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MUSKEGON
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49441
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MUSKEGON COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MKG
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 628
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID MKG
Elevation of weather observation facility 628
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 14000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
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) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 25
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 790
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44767
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N243AT
NTSB Number CHI91LA300
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ATR
Aircraft Model ATR 42-300
Aircraft Series Identifier ATR 42-300
Aircraft Serial Number 243
Certified Max Gross Weight 36870
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 49
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 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMR LEASING CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 619616
Aircraft Owner City DFLO AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75261
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SIMMONS AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 66375
Operator City CHICAGO
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60666
Operator Code SIMA
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TVC
Departure City TRAVERSE CITY
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1725
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORD
Destination City CHICAGO
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 6
Runway Length 6501
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --