HARTFORD, CT, USA
N220KC
SWEARINGEN SA-226-TC
ON AN APPROACH TO LAND AT THE DESTINATION, THE SECOND-IN-COMMAND (SIC) WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED, & THE PROPELLER BLADES CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE SIC INITIATED A GO-AROUND (ABORTED LANDING). WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A STEEP LEFT BANK JUST BEFORE IMPACT IN A RIVER NEXT TO THE AIRPORT. PROPELLER STRIKES ON THE RUNWAY EXTENDED 380', INDICATING A TOUCHDOWN SPEED OF 96 KTS. THE LAST PROPELLER STRIKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE INDICATED A SPEED OF 86 KTS. THE LAST STRIKES ON THE LEFT SIDE INDICATED A SLOWING PROPELLER. PUBLISHED VMC FOR THE AIRPLANE WAS 94 KTS. THE CVR TAPE REVEALED THE CREW COMPLETED A DESCENT ARRIVAL CHECK, PERFORMED AN INCOMPLETE APPROACH BRIEFING, & DID NOT PERFORM A BEFORE LANDING CHECK. THE CVR REVEALED NO SOUND OF A GEAR WARNING HORN. COMPANY PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THE WARNING HORN HAD BEEN FOUND PULLED AT THE COMPLETION OF PREVIOUS FLIGHTS BY OTHER CREW; THIS WAS TO PREVENT A WARNING HORN FROM SOUNDING DURING A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On Tuesday, August 17, 1993, about 0225 eastern daylight time, a Swearingen SA-226, N220KC, owned by Aviation Services, Inc. (ASI), of Hartford, Connecticut, was destroyed when it impacted and sank in the Connecticut River, following an aborted landing at the Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford, Connecticut. Both pilots received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. The Pilot-In-Command (PIC), Scott Cobble, and the Second-In- Command (SIC), Gary Payne, departed the Hartford-Brainard (HFD) airport as a crew in N220KC for a scheduled three day mission, on August 15, 1993. They arrived in Atlantic City (ACY), New Jersey, about 0930. During the day, they completed two round trip flights in two different company Shorts, SD3 airplanes, and terminated the days flying at ACY, about 2345. The crew was off duty from their arrival at ACY until the evening of August 16, 1993, at a company provided motel room. At 2100, they departed ACY for Springfield, Massachusetts, in N220KC, and arrived back at ACY at 2350. Their final departure from ACY was at 0010, August 17, 1993. They arrived at La Guardia (LGA) Airport, New York, at 0050, discharged passengers, and departed LGA at 0100, for FRG. They arrived at FRG at approximately 0115, shut the airplane down, and discharged the remaining passengers. The PIC telephoned the ASI Director of Operations in Hartford, Connecticut, and advised him of their location and their estimated time of arrival at HFD. The director of Operations stated that the communication was a normal procedure and that the PIC seemed composed, and expressed no complaints. At 0123, a crewmember telephoned New York Automated Flight Service and requested the weather at HFD. A weather briefing was provided along with the telephone number for the crew to obtain an instrument clearance from New York Tri-Area Radar Control (TRACON). A crewmember of N220KC obtained the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) clearance by telephone, and at 0153 was issued a takeoff release by telephone, with a void time of 0204. The PIC, whose voice was identified by the ASI, Director of Operations, from the cockpit voice recorder tape, reported airborne from FRG at 0203 to the TRACON controller. Post accident investigation revealed that the PIC was seated in the left seat and the flying SIC was seated in the right seat. Radar contact was established with N220KC and a climb was issued to 5,000 feet where it remained until the initial descent into Hartford, Connecticut. At 0212, the PIC of N220KC contacted Bradley Approach Control and advised that they were at 5,000 feet. The controller advised N220KC to expect the LDA (Localizer Directional Aid) to runway 02 and issued the last weather observation for Brainard which was taken at 2345. At 0216, the controller issued a heading for a radar vector to the LDA final approach, and then instructed N220KC to descend to 2,500 feet. According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript, the crew completed an approach briefing at 0213. The time from the final approach to the missed approach point, and the planned approach speeds were not discussed. After being issued the descent to 2,500 feet the PIC completed the descent checklist items at 0218. The last two items on the checklist, crew briefing, and calculations of the landing weight and the approach reference speed, were not discussed. At 0218:48, the controller issued N220KC the approach clearance and a final heading to intercept the localizer course. The PIC of N220KC acknowledged the clearance. During the next 2 minutes the SIC requested progressive flap settings, which the PIC accomplished. The SIC stated at 0220:36, "crossing Lomis," which was the final approach fix. Over the next minute, communications between the SIC and PIC consisted of a request for a 3/4 flap setting, power adjustments, course alignment, confirmation of the minimum descent altitude and an adjustment of sink rate. The PIC reported to the SIC at 0221:58, "okay, keep her coming down Gary, there's the runway." At that point the SIC stated, "alrighty, my power, landing flaps." There was no recording on the CVR that a before landing checklist readout was discussed or accomplished. At about 0222, the PIC called the Bradley Approach Controller and cancelled their IFR flight plan and indicated that they were clear of the clouds at 1,100 feet. The controller acknowledged the cancellation and advised N220KC to "squawk VFR" on their transponder. After the cancellation with Bradley, a company airplane transmitted on the airport UNICOM frequency and inquired if N220KC was on that frequency. The PIC of N220KC stated, "Yeah Bob, we're...getting ready to touch down." A request for weather information was made by the company airplane, and the PIC of N220KC requested that they standby. A fast metallic grinding noise was heard on the CVR at 0223:45, followed by a sound similar to that of a loud metallic impact. The following is an excerpt of the Cockpit Voice Recorder transcript, starting at 0222:48: 0222:48 PIC Okay speeds are (good). 0222:49 SIC Good, Good, Good. 0222:50 PIC Looking good, looking good. 0222:54 PIC Yeah, we're at ref plus fifteen..ref plus ten..plus ten..down five..plus ten..plus fifteen. 0223:11 PIC Ref. 0223:39 SIC Yeah we're good, we're good. 0223:44.5 [sound similar to that of fast metallic grinding] 0223:45.0 [sound similar to that of loud metallic impact] 0223:45.8 SIC What was that? 0223:46.2 [sound similar to that of fast metallic grinding] 0223:46.6 [sound similar to that of loud metallic impact] 0223:47.0 [sound similar to that of decrease in prop RPM] 0223:47.8 SIC The # [expletive deleted] gear. 0223:49.0 SIC Is it down? 0223:50.0 PIC Yeah gear's down. 0223:51.0 SIC No it's up. 0223:52.7 SIC Give me some power, give me some power. 0223:53.5 PIC Gear's down. 0223:54.8 SIC It's up. 0223:55.3 PIC # 0223:56.7 SIC Give me some power there Scotty. 0223:59.3 SIC Give me some power (we're going below) 0224:00.2 PIC It's indicating up, it's ind-...#. 0224:02.5 SIC Give me some power, give me some- 0224:08.1 PIC # 0224:11.3 SIC Give me some power. Similar interaction between the SIC and PIC continued for the next 12 seconds, followed by a sound similar to that of the stall warning horn at 0224:20.1. The CVR tape ended at 0224:26.3 Two witnesses located at a power plant, 1/2 mile north of the airport, observed N220KC in an approximate 80 to 90 degree left bank, 100 feet above the Connecticut river. They stated that the airplane passed close to a barge unloader which is a crane approximately 125 feet high, with a boom that extends about 30 feet out over the water. The witnesses observed the airplane descend behind a stone wall, and heard the airplane impact the water. One witness who observed the airplane stated: "Jeff and I were walking towards the Transfer Building and noticed a plane out of control. It just missed the barge unloader and the wings were in a vertical position...the engines sounded way off. We immediately ran inside and called control room-emergency...When we went back out all we saw was the tail of the plane sticking out of the water. It stayed there for about 10 minutes and then went under." The airplane struck the water approximately 1,000 feet beyond the barge unloader. It was submerged in 25 feet of water about 30 feet from the shore, directly in front of a power plant water intake tunnel. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness at approximately 41 degrees, 45 minutes north latitude, and 72 degrees, 39 minutes west longitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATION PILOT IN COMMAND: The Captain, J. Scott Cobble, held an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate for airplane multiengine land and was type rated in the Shorts SD-3. He also held a Commercial Pilot Certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, rotorcraft helicopter, and instrument helicopter. Additionally, he held a Flight Instructor Certificate for airplane single and multiengine land and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) First Class Medical Certificate was issued on July 31, 1993. Mr. Cobble was hired by ASI in May 1989, where he flew as a second in command in the King Air BE-100 and BE-200. By March 1990, he had been upgraded to Captain in the King Air aircraft. He received both his initial qualification training and certification as a PIC, in the Swearingen SA-226, in September 1990. Mr. Cobble was approved by the FAA's Principal Operations Inspector for ASI, as a company check airman effective January 1993, in the SA-226. His last company Airmen Competency/ Proficiency Check in the SA-226 was on October 26, 1992. Mr. Cobble had accumulated approximately 4200 hours of flight time of which about 600 hours were in this type of airplane. During the previous 90 days, Mr. Cobble had flown as a crewmember in six different types of airplanes to include the Shorts SD-3, the King Air 90, 100 and 200, a Piper PA-23 and the SA-226. SECOND IN COMMAND: The Second In Command, Gary B Payne, held a Commercial Pilot Certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) First Class Medical Certificate was issued on February 1, 1993. Mr. Payne was hired by ASI in 1991. He flew as an SIC in the King Air, the Shorts SD-3 and the SA-226. His last company Airmen Competency/Proficiency Check in the SA-226 was on June 23, 1993. Mr. Payne had accumulated approximately 2690 hours of flight time, of which about 586 hours were the SA-226. During the previous 90 days, Mr. Cobble had flown as a SIC in four different types of airplanes. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane wreckage was located submerged in approximately 25 feet of water, about 30 feet off the shore of the Connecticut River, directly in front of a power plant water intake pipe. The airplane came to rest inverted in the water on an approximate magnetic bearing of 090 degrees. The salvage divers reported, prior to rigging the airplane for removal, they observed the landing gear extended and the flaps appeared to be fully down. The wreckage was removed from the water and examined on August 19, 1993. Examination of the wreckage revealed that all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The fuselage hull from the wings aft was intact, with tears and fractures in the sheet metal in the vicinity of the wings. On the bottom of the fuselage a scrape mark, with a piece of sheet metal missing, was observed approximately nine feet forward of the tail, where the fuselage starts to curve and tapper. A piece of sheet metal was found on the runway about 3300 feet down from the approach end of runway 02. The sheet metal was painted white on one side and had green chromate on the other side. The forward 15 feet of the fuselage nose section was compressed aft, and to the right, toward the number two engine. The nose section and the cockpit area was ripped open on the left side and destroyed. The wings were canted with the left angled aft about 45 degrees, and the right angled forward about 45 degrees. The leading edges of both wings were curled down and aft. The sheet metal of both wings was compressed and torn. The wing tips of both wings were twisted/rotated downward approximately 80 degrees. The landing gear was extended and the flaps were at an approximate 30 degree setting. The control cables were examined for continuity. The cables were found broken at the bow-tie at the center section of the fuselage. From that point outward, control continuity was established from the cockpit to the rudder, elevator and ailerons. The fuel tanks were ruptured and were absent of fuel. The left engine was attached to its wing section and showed no visible signs of failure. The engine would not rotate by hand. No visible damage was observed to the first impeller stage. No foreign material was observed in the left engine intake area. The right engine was found attached to its wing section and also showed no visible signs of failure. The right engine would not rotate by hand. There was visible soft blade bends, opposite the direction of rotation, in the first impeller stage. There was some foreign material visible in the right engine intake area. The right propeller hub was attached to its respective engine. The blades of the right propeller hub were at an angle similar to that of a feathered position. One blade was curved opposite the direction of rotation. The left propeller hub was attached to its respective engine and was found with the start locks engaged. The propeller blades were observed at a low blade angle similar to a flat pitch position. All three blades curved aft towards the wing section. The tips of all propeller blades were sheared or broken off, with two to five inches missing from the ends of each. Pieces of metal similar to the missing propeller blade tips were found on and near runway 02, at the Hartford-Brainard Airport. Multiple strikes were observed on the left side of runway 02, beginning 1820 feet from the approach end. The strikes extended for approximately 322 feet. Multiple strikes on the right side of the runway center line began 1850 feet from the approach end of the runway and extended intermittently for about 350 feet. The distance between the initial strikes, on both the left and right side of the runway, were measured at 19 inched apart. The last strikes on the right side of the runway measured 17 inches apart. The distance between the last regular strikes on the left side of the runway measured 56 inches apart. Intermittent strikes were observed on the left side for another 75 feet. Numerous pieces of white paint chips were found on the runway in the vicinity of the strikes. The cockpit voice recorder was recovered intact, and transported to the NTSB laboratory for analysis. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Autopsies were performed on Mr. Scott Cobble and Mr. Gary Payne, on August 17, 1993, by Dr. Thomas F. Gilchrist, M.D., Associate Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Farmington, Connecticut. The autopsy report stated that both died of "multiple blunt force injuries." The toxicological testing report, from the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed negative for drugs, carbon monoxide, cyanide and alcohol, for Mr. Cobble and Mr. Payne. However, Mr. Cobble showed a high positive for ethanol and acetaldehyde detected in the brain in the FAA report, and positive for ethanol in the brain in the autopsy report. The Human Performance Division of the NTSB reviewed the accident report data and attributed this to putrefaction. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Airplane Speeds: According to a Garrett Engine Chart, a propeller speed of 2000 RPM with strikes 19 inches apart, computed to an airplane speed of 96 knots. Propeller strikes 17 inches apart computed to an airplane speed of 86 knots. According to the FAA approved Airplane Flight Manual, the estimated approach speed for this airplane was 99 knots for the landing at HFD. The airplane placard stated that the minimum control speed (Vmc) was 94 knots. Company Operations Procedures: According to the ASI Company Pilot Training Manual Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) the following procedures are to be utilized: "Checklists - General, Checklists should be initiated by the pilot flying (PF). Good airmanship requires that, if in the opinion of the pilot not flying (PNF), initiation of the
FAILURE OF THE COPILOT (SECOND-IN-COMMAND) TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST, ASSURE THE GEAR WAS EXTENDED FOR LANDING AND ATTAIN OR MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED (VMC); AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE FLIGHT AND TAKE SUFFICIENT REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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