Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Millard Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Omaha, Nebraska 69201
Wednesday, March 31, 2004 17:05 CST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff when the airplane veered off the right side of runway 30 (3,801 feet by 75 feet, concrete). The pilot reported that he "pushed the speed levers full forward and, while holding the brakes (with rudder pedals neutral), pushed the power levers up to approximately 80% torque and released brakes, using the nosewheel steering power lever button." He reported the airplane accelerated down the runway near centerline. At approximately 50 knots, he released the nosewheel steering power lever button and the aircraft started to veer to the right. He reengaged the nosewheel steering power lever button and applied rudder, but the airplane continued to veer off the runway. He reported he initiated abort takeoff procedures, but the airplane was unable to stop on the concrete surface. The airplane struck a runway light and the nose gear collapsed in the soft dirt when it went off the runway. The on-site inspection of the accident revealed that the airplane veered off the right side of the runway approximately 720 feet from the start of the takeoff roll. Tire skid marks about 50 feet in length were observed where the airplane veered off the runway. The left skid mark was measured at nine feet right of the runway centerline. The skid marks left the runway at about a 30 - 35 degree angle. The nosewheel steering system could not be checked due to impact damage. The Pre-takeoff Checklist calls for a Steering and Alignment check prior to takeoff. The Steering and Alignment checks the operational status of the nosewheel steering system prior to takeoff, and the nose wheel steering should not be used if the airplane fails the Steering and Alignment check during the Pre-takeoff Checklist. The Swearingen Metro SA226-T Airplane Flight Manual states that if a malfunction occurs in the nose wheel steering mechanism, adequate steering "can be maintained by use of rudder, brakes, and/or differential power." The inspection of the airplane revealed no anomalies were found that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot failed to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing factors to the accident were the runway light and the soft terrain.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 3/31/2004 |
| Event Day of the Week | Wednesday |
| Time of Event | 1705 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Standard Time |
| Event City | Omaha |
| Event State | NEBRASKA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 69201 |
| Event Date Year | 2004 |
| Event Date Month | 3 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 411145N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0960644W |
| Event Location Airport | Millard Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | MLE |
| 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 | 1051 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1640 Central Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | MLE |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1051 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 11 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -2 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 350 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 4 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.1 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KMLE 312250Z AUTO 35004KT 10SM CLR 11/M02 A3 |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 1 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 16687 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Apr 1 2004 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1038 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 3 2004 9:35AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | FAA Lincoln FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N636SP |
| NTSB Number | CHI04LA096 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Swearingen |
| Aircraft Model | SA226-T |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | T-285 |
| 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 | 11 |
| Number of Engines | 2 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Continuous Airworthiness |
| Date of Last Inspection | -- |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 57.8 |
| Airframe Hours | 5430 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | BLN Engineering LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 732 N. 129th St. |
| Aircraft Owner City | Omaha |
| Aircraft Owner State | NE |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 68154 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | -- |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | -- |
| Operator State | -- |
| Operator Country | -- |
| Operator Zip code | -- |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| 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 | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | MLE |
| Departure City | Millard |
| Departure State | NE |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1705 |
| Departure Time Zone | CST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | CBF |
| Destination City | Council Bluffs |
| Destination State | IA |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Takeoff |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 23 2004 12:31PM |
| User who most recently changed record | SULP |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 30 |
| Runway Length | 3801 |
| Runway Width | 75 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |