RAPID CITY, SD, USA
N64MD
MITSUBISHI MU-2B-60
WITNESSES RPRTD THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNUSUALLY STEEP, NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, WHILE STILL AT LOW AIRSPEED. ONE WITNESS (AN ATP PLT) RPRTD THE ACFT ATTAINED AN ALT OF APRX 75 TO 100 FT AND APPEARED TO SLOW DOWN AND ENTER A VMC ROLL, THEN IT CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN INVERTED, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, LEFT OF THE RWY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A COUPLING SHAFT (PN 865888-3) HAD FAILED IN THE LEFT ENG & THE LEFT PROP HAD FEATHERED. A METALLURICAL EXAM OF THE COUPLING SHOWED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FATIGUE FAILURE OF A COUPLING SHAFT IN THE #1 ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER IN THAT ENGINE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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