N288PA
Registered owner: SKYWEST LEASING INC, UT (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIRD ACQUISITION LLC | Operator | on 2017-03-11 | Operator named in NTSB report |
| PAN AM INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY | Operator | on 2003-07-07 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
Operated by BIRD ACQUISITION LLC (per NTSB report)
Operated by PAN AM INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY (per NTSB report)
Maintenance disclosures
Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA for this airframe. Filing is largely voluntary — the number of reports is not a measure of reliability. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.
4 reports on file, 2003-07-09 – 2016-11-01.
Part: BRACKET — CRACKED (ELT) · airframe 16,477 hrs
WHEN THE ELT WAS BEING REMOVED FOR INSPECTION, THE TECH DISCOVERED TWO 2" CRACKS NEXT TO THE NUTPLATES IN THE ELT MOUNTING BRACKET. THESE CRACKS CAN ONLY BE SEEN WHEN THE ELT TRAY IS REMOVED.
Part: BRACKET — CRACKED (ZONE 100) · airframe 14,400 hrs
DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, A Z-SHAPED BRACKET IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FIREWALL WAS FOUND CRACKED. THE BRACKET IS INSTALLED ABOVE THE TUNNEL AND IS PART OF THE STRUCTURE SUPPORTING THE RUDDER PEDAL BAR. CRACKING CAN ONLY BE SEEN BY USE OF A MIRROR AND GOOD FLASHLIGHT. IT IS LIKELY CRACKING IS CAUSED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE RUDDER PEDALS STRESSING THE SURROUNDING STRUCTURE.
Part: TUBE — FAILED (MLG TIRE) · airframe 13,150 hrs
DURING LANDING, THE RT MAIN TIRE WENT FLAT. THE WHEEL ASSY WAS REPLACED WITH A SERVICEABLE BUILT UP WHEEL ASSY WHILE THE ACFT WAS STILL ON THE RUNWAY. THE AFFECTED TUBE WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF A BUILT-UP WHEEL ASSY AND HAD SINCE ACCRUED 168 HOURS TIME IN SERVICE. THIS REPAIR STATION HAS EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF TIRE TUBE FAILURES WITHIN THE PAST 6 WEEKS; THESE FAILURES OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OR WHEN THE ACFT WAS STANDING. THE MAJORITY OF FAILED TUBES ARE PN 092-315-0 TUBES. INSPECTION OF FAILED TUBES REVEALS SMALL, ELONGATED HOLES OR TEARS THAT ARE NOT LOCATED ON A SEAM IN THE RUBBER. THE HOLES ARE LOCATED ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE TUBE WHEN LAID FLAT. THE AFFECTED TUBES ARE INSTALLED IN 600X6X6PR TIRES, ARE SERVICED WITH 18 OR 24 PSI OF DRY NITROGEN, AND ARE INSTALLED ON ACFT THAT OPERATE BETWEEN 2100 AND 2500 LBS. THE REPAIR STATION LOCATION HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHANGES THAT WOULD AFFECT INFLATION PRESSURE.
Part: SCREW — BACKED OUT (CONTROL WHEEL)
THE SCREW THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL WHEEL TO THE YOKE BACKS OUT ON BOTH THE PILOT AND COPILOTS WHEEL. WHEN THE SCREW BACKS OUT ENOUGH, IT FALLS OUT ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO ROTATE FREELY AROUND THE YOKE. THIS RESULTS IN NO FLIGHT CONTROL INPUT. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THIS AIRCRAFT PILOT SIDE CONTROL WHEEL FORCING THE PILOT TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD. AFTER LANDING, THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED A TREE CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE WING AND FUSELAGE. PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE SCREW BACKING OUT IS THAT THE SCREW IS TOO SHORT. THE MS24964S59 SCREW IS 1.0937 INCH LONG WITH ONLY HALF A THREAD SHOWING THROUGH THE NUTPLATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOCKING FEATURE OF THE NUTPLATE HAD FAILED.