Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Homer, Alaska 99603
Friday, May 30, 2014 9:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On May 30, 2014, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-3T airplane, equipped with a Honeywell TPE331 turbine engine, experienced an anomalous in-flight vibration and uncommanded nose-down pitch during cruise flight in the vicinity of Homer, Alaska. The personal flight was operated by Alaska Air Taxi under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 with no flight plan filed. The airline transport pilot and the two passengers were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right elevator. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Seldovia, Alaska, about 0900, en route to Anchorage, Alaska. According to the pilot, during cruise flight, the airplane vibrated and subsequently pitched nose-down. The pilot applied corrections and continued the flight to the destination. After landing, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found that the skin on the right elevator servo tab was separated from the hinge, and spar structures inside the right elevator were cracked. The elevator servo tab skin and hinge were retained for further examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/2014
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone --
Event City Homer
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99603
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 5
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 --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 AKD
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PAHO
Elevation of weather observation facility 64
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation AKD
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
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) 29.66
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR PAHO 301653Z 11004KT 10SM BKN060 OVC070 13/0
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC - Anchorage
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2014 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3125N
NTSB Number ANC14LA035
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DEHAVILLAND
Aircraft Model DHC-3T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 394
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KATMAI AIR LEASING LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 995024176
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Alaska Air Taxi
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Anchorage
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99502
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PASO
Departure City SELDOVIA
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone AKD
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PANC
Destination City Anchorage
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2014 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --