Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Madison, Wisconsin 53714
Friday, June 3, 1988 18:25 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON A STABILIZED FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT ROLL WHEN THE FLAP SETTING WAS INCREASED FROM FIVE TO FIFTEEN DEGREES. THE CONDITION WAS ALLEVIATED WHEN THE FLAPS WERE RESET TO FIVE DEGREES. POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT OUTBOARD FLAP POSITION SIGNALLING CABLE HAD FAILED. INSPECTION OF THE OPERATOR'S FLEET FOUND TWO ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT WITH CHAFFED/FRAYED FLAP POSITION SIGNALLING CABLES. ALL CHAFFED/FRAYED CABLES WERE INSTALLED ON AIRCRAFT WHICH THE OPERATOR HAD PURCHASED AS A SERIES. ON THIS SERIES OF AIRCRAFT THE FLAPS AND CONTROL RIGGING WERE INSTALLED BY THE VENDOR WHICH MANUFACTURES THE WINGS, RATHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AIRFRAME, AS IS NORMALLY THE CASE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE RIGHT OUTBOARD FLAP POSITION SIGNALLING CABLE DUE TO CHAFFING INITIATED BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION/RIGGING BY A MANUFACTURER'S VENDOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 6/3/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1825
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MADISON
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53714
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 6
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 862
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1800 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID MSN
Elevation of weather observation facility 862
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 24000
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 21
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5101
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39210
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N383MQ
NTSB Number CHI88IA129
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 SHORT BROTHERS
Aircraft Model SD3-60
Aircraft Series Identifier SD3-60
Aircraft Serial Number SH3706
Certified Max Gross Weight 27453
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 May 26 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 3413
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name U.S. WEST FINANCIAL SERV. INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 230 PARK AVE. SUITE 3410
Aircraft Owner City NEW YORK
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10169
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 198A AIRPORT DR.
Operator City NEGAUNEE
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 49866
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ORD
Departure City CHICAGO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1740
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MSN
Destination City MADISON
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 36
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --