Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Parkersburg, West Virginia 26107
Sunday, October 28, 1990 13:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

N52DC WAS CLIMBING THRU FL280 WHEN THE FLT CREW FELT A 'VIOLENT SHUDDER' IN THE AIRFRAME AND OBSERVED INDICATIONS OF A LEFT ENGINE FAILURE. VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENG REVEALED THE FAN SECTION HAD SEPARATED (UNCONTAINED FAILURE/TEARAWAY). THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE PARTS REVEALED THE FAN DISC FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO LOW CYCLE FATIGUE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE FAN DISC DUE TO LOW CYCLE FATIGUE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/28/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PARKERSBURG
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 26107
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 2264
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 28 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44608
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52DC
NTSB Number NYC91LA020
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DASSAULT-BREGUET
Aircraft Model FALCON 50
Aircraft Series Identifier FALCON 50
Aircraft Serial Number 126
Certified Max Gross Weight 38800
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 10
Number of Engines 3
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
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address HANGAR 5, TRI CITY AIRPORT
Operator City FREELAND
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48623
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LWB
Departure City LEWISBURG
Departure State WV
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MBS
Destination City SAGINAW
Destination State MI
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --