BUSINESS AIR INC
Also recorded as: BUSINESS AIR INC, Business Air, Inc.
Accident & enforcement record
Events that happened, regardless of the operator's own reporting. Each links to its public source.
NTSB accidents & incidents
Operated by Business Air, Inc. (per NTSB report)
The pilot's misinterpretation of the airplane's position relative to the final approach fix, which resulted in the displacement of the descent profile by 6 nautical miles and the subsequent controlled flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident were the low clouds.
Operated by BUSINESS AIR, INC. (per NTSB report)
FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY AN AIRPLANE WITH KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.
Operated by BUSINESS AIR INC LTD (per NTSB report)
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED PROCEDURES WHEN HE ELECTED TO TAKE-OFF WITH FULL FLAPS.
Operated by BUSINESS AIR, INC. (per NTSB report)
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DE-ICE THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AND HIS DECISION TO MAKE THE TAKEOFF AT A WEIGHT THAT EXCEEDED BOTH THE MAXIMUM STRUCTURAL TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE REDUCED TAKEOFF WEIGHT ALLOWED FOR ICING CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN INADEVERTENT STALL.
FAA enforcement actions
No FAA enforcement actions linked to this operator.
Maintenance disclosure history
Service Difficulty Reports are self-reported maintenance findings. The NUMBER of reports is not a measure of reliability — diligent operators file more, not fewer. These are shown for transparency, not as a negative signal. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.
Reports span 1995–2007. Most-reported systems: Flight controls (27) — 4; Landing gear (32) — 4; Lights (33) — 3; Fuselage (53) — 2; ATA 85 — 2 (top 5 of 13 systems, covering 15 of 23 coded reports). Most-common natures of condition, as filed: OTHER — 12; WARNING INDICATION — 4; INADEQUATE Q C — 3; FALSE WARNING — 1; FLT CONT AFFECTED — 1 (top 5 of 7 conditions, covering 21 of 23 coded reports).
23 reports on file.
Part: ROD — BROKEN (FUEL CONTROL)
DURING A 150 HR INSPECTION THE LOWER FUEL CONTROL ROD WAS FOUND BROKEN ON THREADED SHAFT WHERE IT SCREWS INTO COUPLING. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN BENT AND A MORE DETAILED INSPECTION OF THIS COMPONENT SHOULD OCCUR. (K)
Part: DISPLAY — FAILED (RADAR)
FLIGHT WITH CARGO ON BOARD, PILOT SAID RADAR SCREEN WENT BLANK. SHORTLY AFTER HE SAID THE COCKPIT STARTED TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. RADIOED TOWER AND DIVERTED FROM INTENDED DESTINATION TO CLOSEST AIRPORT. LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT WITH THE LOCAL FIRE DEPT STANDING BY. MECHANIC DROVE TO INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT. FOUND WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED WITH THE RADAR ON. THE INDICATOR WOULD START TO SMOKE SIGNIFICANTLY. THE RADAR INDICATOR WAS REMOVED AND THE SYSTEM WAS MEL. PROBABLE CAUSE: COMPONENT AGE. (NE05DAD200400035)
Part: LIGHT — MISINSTALLED (LT WING)
LEFT WING POSITION LIGHT/STROBE ASSY INSTALLED INCORRECTLY(BACKWARDS). RED LIGHT FACING AFT AND STROBE FACING FOWARD. ASSY CAN BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT FACTORY OR BY MECHANIC IN THE FIELD.
Part: LIGHT — MISINSTALLED (RT WING)
RIGHT WING POSITION/STROBE LIGHT INSTALLED INCORRECTLY(BACKWARDS). GREEN LIGHT FACING AFT AND STROBE FACING FOWARD. LIGHT ASSY CAN BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT FACTORY OR BY MECHANIC IN THE FIELD.
Part: LIGHT — MISINSTALLED (LT WING)
LEFT WING POSITION/STROBE LIGHT ASSY INSTALLED INCORRECTLY(BACKWARDS). RED LIGHT FACING AFT AND STROBE FACING FOWARD. LIGHT ASSY CAN BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT FACTORY OR BY MECHANIC IN THE FIELD.
Part: CHANNEL — CRACKED (NLG WW)
FOUND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT T CHANNELS CRACKED APPROX 8 INCHES. THESE CHANNELS ARE LOCATED ON THE FORWARD CORNERS OF THE NOSE WHEEL WELL BOX ASSY AND ACCESSED FROM THE NOSE BAGGAGE AREA. POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR CRACKING DUE TO EXCESSIVE SIDE LOADING WHILE TAXIING. (M)
Part: TORQUE TUBE — CRACKED (TE FLAP)
DURING A PART 91 TRAINING FLIGHT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS AN ASYMMETRICAL FLAP CONDITION (SLIGHT). CREW RETURNED TO BASE AND MAINTENANCE FOUND FLAP TORQUE TUBE 80 PERCENT CRACKED THROUGH AT LEFT BELLCRANK AREA.
Part: WHEEL — CRACKED (NLG)
WHILE REPORTING FROM UPS RAMP TO FBO RAMP IN BUF A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING AIRCRAFT WHILE TAXIING. THE NOSE WHEEL HALF BROKE LEAVING THE AXLE BOLT AND TWO WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE AXLE. BEARINGS WERE FOUND TO BE CORRODED. PROBABLE CAUSE, FREQUENT DE-ICINGS WITH GLYCOL WASHED OUT NOSEWHEEL BEARINGS. WHEELBEARINGS ARE NOW INSPECTED EVERY 150 HOURS. (M)
Part: LATCH — WORN (RT COWL)
BUFFALO-BINGHAMTON - WHILE EN ROUTE THE FLIGHT CREW DIVERTED TO ROCHESTER NY AFTER EXPERIENCING RIGHT ENGINE TORQUE FLUCTUATIONS. AFTER LANDING, THE CREW DISCOVERED THE RIGHT ENGINE TOP COWL HAD BECOME PARTIALLY UNLATCHED. THE ENGINE INLET WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS. NO APPARENT SIGNS OF A BIRD STRIKE WERE DETECTED 4 COWL LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE COWL WAS SECURED AND THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS GROUND OPERATIONALLY CHECKED, ALL INDICATIONS AND PARAMETERS WERE SATISFACTORY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED TO SERVICE. (M)
Part: PUMP — FAILED (LT ENGINE)
AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 P.M. ON 6-25-98 WHILE EN ROUTE TO SYRACUSE, THE LT HYD SYSTEM PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO PSIG. A NORMAL LANDING ACCOMPLISHED AT SYRACUSE. THE HYD SYS FILTER AND PRESSURE AND SUCTION LINES WERE EXAMINED FOR METAL. NONE FOUND. THE LT PUMP WAS ISOLATED AND A FERRY FLIGHT TO B5B. THE LT PUMP P/N 65WE00224-1 S/N C1-155-C1 REMOVED AND REPLACED ALONG WITH THE PRIMARY SYSTEM FILTER. THE HYD PUMP AND SYS FUNCTIONAL TESTED SATISFACTORY AND ACFT RETURNED TO SERVICE. (X)
Part: WIRE — CHAFED (RT ENGINE)
THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE ROCHESTER, NY AIRPORT AS THE RIGHT HAND ENGINE'S CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE AND EVENTUALLY FELL TO ZERO BEFORE LANDING. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE'S BAFFLING, EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND CYLINDERS REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED A CHAFED WIRE ADJACENT TO THE EXHAUST HEADER HEAT SHIELD, THE 22 GAUGE AIRFRAME CHT INDICATION SYSTEM WIRE WAS SPLICED USING A SP0704 INSULATED SPLICE CONNECTOR, EGT SYSTEM OPERATION, AND INDICATIONS WERE OPS CHECKED AND FOUND NORMAL.
Part: SPRING — BROKEN (RT ENG STARTER)
THE RIGHT ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED INTO THE YELLOW ARC DURING FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING (DID NOT SHUT DOWN ENGINE). INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE SPRING BROKE IN THE STARTER ADAPTER AND PIECES BECAME LODGED UNDER THE RELEIF VALVE. THE START ADAPTER WAS REPLACED. FLUSHED OIL SYSTEM, OPENED FILTER AFTER GROUND RUN FOR 30 MINUTES. NO METAL NOTED IN FILTER.
Part: BRACKET — CRACKED (TRIM ACTUATOR)
ELEVATOR TRIM TAB ACTUATOR SUPPORT, PART NR 110-3210-04, FOUND CRACKED DURING INSPECTION PER AD 91-25-09. BRACKET WAS REPLACED. (M)
Part: BRACKET — CRACKED (HORIZ STAB)
AT FRAME STATION 33, LEFT FORWARD UPPR SUPPORT BRACKET, P/N 110-1411-07-31, FOUND CRACKED DURING DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION PER AD 83-14-09. CRACK EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY .125 INCH THROUGH .1875 INCH FROM BOLT HOLE. BRACKET WAS REPLACED.
Part: WHEEL — CRACKED (LT MLG)
LEFT MLG INBOARD WHEEL HALF, BEAD AREA BROKE OFF (80 PERCENT). A PIECE OF WHEEL HIT PROPELLER CAUSING LEFT PROPELLER BLADE DAMAGE.
Part: BELLCRANK — CRACKED (LT ELEVATOR)
LEFT ELEVATOR BELLCRANK CRACKED ON FLANGE. CRACK CAUSED BY TELEFLEX CABLE BOUNCING ON FLANGE AREA. THIS BELLCRANK WAS REPLACED. REPOSITIONED CLAMP FOR TELEFLEX CABLE.
Part: BRACKET — CRACKED (RT AILERON)
RIGHT AILERON CENTER HINGE BRACKET WAS FOUND CRACKED AT HOLE FOR MOUNTING TO WING. REPLACED HINGE BRACKET.
Part: DRIVE GEAR — STRIPPED (LANDING GEAR)
UPON LANDING GEAR ACTUATION, LANDING GEAR CYCLE SLOWER THAN NORMAL AND GRINDING NOISE HEARD. UPON REMOVED OF LANDING GEAR MOTOR, P/N 1514818, STRIPPED OF ALL TEETH EXCEPT FOR 2 OR 3 TEETH REMAINING.
Part: HINGE — LOOSE (RUDDER)
DURING FLIGHT, PILOT REPORTED SEVERE VIBRATION FROM RUDDER. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND UPPER RUDDER HINGE CRACKED WHERE BOLT PASSES THROUGH TOP AND BOTTOM. RUDDER TRIM TAB HINGE WHERE ACTUATOR ARM ATTACHES WAS FOUND LOOSE (WORKING CHERRYMAX RIVETS). THIS DAMAGE APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED DURING A WINDSTORM AND ACFT TAILED INTO WIND. (ALL CONTROL LOCKS WERE INSTALLED.)
Part: ADAPTER — WORN (LT ENG STARTER)
INSPECTED BOTH STARTER ADAPTERS AND FOUND THEM WORN BEYOND LIMITS PER SB MEB 94-4. THIS PART IS THE NEW IMPROVED STYLE ADAPTER AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INSPECTIONS.
Part: ADAPTER — WORN (RT ENG STARTER)
INSPECTED BOTH STARTER ADAPTERS AND FOUND THEM WORN BEYOND LIMITS PER SB MEB 94-4. THIS PART IS THE NEW IMPROVED STYLE ADAPTER AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INSPECTIONS.
Part: WEB — CRACKED (LT/RT NLG WW)
FOUND BOTH NOSE GEAR DRAG BRACE ATTACH POINTS (WHEELWELL SKINS) CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES.
Part: TORQUE LINK — BROKEN (RT MLG)
RT MLG UPPER TORQUE LINK FAILED AT CENTER PIVOT POINT. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A LOCKING PIN FAILURE (ITEM 66A) AND (ITEM 67A).
Linked aircraft
| N-number | Make / model | Year | Status | Link basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N179FR | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report | |
| N4688B | CESSNA 180 | — | Valid Registration | Operator named in NTSB report |
| N59BA | ICON AIRCRAFT INC A5 | 2018 | Valid Registration | Operator named in NTSB report |
| N60040 | CESSNA 150J | 1968 | Registration pending | Operator named in NTSB report |
| N621KC | EMBRAER EMB-110P1 | — | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
Aircraft with earlier records under this certificate
Maintenance and accident records on this page also cover aircraft that are not in this operator's current FAA fleet list. Charter and management fleets change — owners switch management companies, sell, or export aircraft. Where the registry shows what became of a tail, it is noted below.
- N59BA (ICON AIRCRAFT INC A5) — records 2006 · registered to MULLANE DAVID P (owner ≠ operator)
- N49BA — records 2004 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N28AN (CESSNA 208B) — records 2001 · registered to AVION CAPITAL CORP (owner ≠ operator)
- N29AN (CESSNA 208B) — records 2001 · now operated by South Aero, Inc.
- N5409G (CESSNA 404) — records 1999 · now operated by Richland Aviation, Inc.
- N62BA — records 1999 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N51BA (RALPH KNIGHT ELITE) — records 1999 · registered to DAVIDSON BRENT V (owner ≠ operator)
- N62CZ (CERNEY JOHN COZY IV) — records 1998 · registered to CERNEY JOHN (owner ≠ operator)
- N790RA — records 1997–1998 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N402ME — records 1998 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N101TN (TEXTRON AVIATION INC 208) — records 1998 · registered to HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE (owner ≠ operator)
- N903FB — records 1997 · no longer on the FAA registry
5 more aircraft
- N577W (BEECH 58) — records 1996 · now operated by G T A Air, Inc.
- N404BA (TEXTRON AVIATION INC 208B) — records 1995 · now operated by Bering Air, Inc.
- N60040 (CESSNA 150J) — records 1991 · registered to REGISTRATION PENDING (owner ≠ operator)
- N179FR — records 1990 · no longer on the FAA registry
- N4688B (CESSNA 180) — records 1990 · registered to AUFDERHAR SAMUEL E (owner ≠ operator)