TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC

Operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc (per NTSB report)

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from snow covered terrain during an en route descent in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

Operated by TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC (per NTSB report)

The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for taxiing, which resulted in a nose-over.

Operated by TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC (per NTSB report)

The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to follow Federal Aviation Administration-recommended traffic pattern procedures.

Operated by TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC (per NTSB report)

The overstress fracture and failure of the right wheel/ski arm while taxiing in snow and water-overflow terrain conditions, which resulted in a noseover.

Operated by TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC (per NTSB report)

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

Operated by TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC (per NTSB report)

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff.

Operated by TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC (per NTSB report)

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in an overload failure of the tail ski assembly during the landing roll.

Operated by TALKEETNA AIR TAXI INC (per NTSB report)

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather conditions, which precipitated an in-flight loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the tailwind.

Sanction: $15,000 · case closed 2025-02-12

Sanction: $4,225 · case closed 2016-10-14

Sanction: $2,000 · case closed 2003-08-25

Part: IGNITER — BURNED (ENGINE) · airframe 20,692 hrs

IGNITORS BURN THROUGH TO ELECTRICAL LEAD WITHIN 100 HOURS OF USE. HOT TURBINE COMBUSTION GASES ESCAPE THROUGH IGNITOR BODY TO BURN CONNECTION AND IGITOR LEAD. LEAD SEIZES IN PLACE AND CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT BEING DESTROYED. IGNITOR FAILS, IGNITION LEAD MUST BE REPLACED.

Part: FORK — CRACKED (ZONE 700) · airframe 21,923 hrs · 1,234 cycles

CRACKED TAIL LANDING GEAR FORK PART NUMBER C3UT85-3 . CRACK IN CRITICAL AREA OF FORK WHERE FAILURE COULD CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT DURING TAKE OFF OR LANDING. ORIGINAL OEM CAST TAIL FORK FAILS AND BREAKS WHICH FORCES TAIL LANDING GEAR WITH TAIL SKI TO COLAPSE UPWARD INTO FUSELAGE COMPROMISING BULKHEADS AND SHEARING RUDDER CONTROL.

Part: SHEAVE — UNKNOWN (ZONE 200) · airframe 4,687 hrs · 1 cycles

BUMPS OR BUBBLES WERE FOUND IN THE UPPER SHEAVE GROOVES. THESE SEEM TO BE CORROSION POCKETS BETWEEN THE METALIZED PLATING AND THE CAST ALUMINUM BASE. IF THIS CONTINUED IN SERVICE, ACCELERATED DRIVE BELT WEAR WILL OCCUR.

Part: ATTACH BOLT — CRACKED (SKI) · airframe 19,026 hrs · 1 cycles

MLG SKI ATTACH BOLT CRACKED AND DEFORMED.

Part: YOKE — BROKEN (RT SKI)

WHILE TAXIING ON A SNOW COVERED LAKE, THE PILOT INITIATED A LEFT TURN, THE RIGHT WENT INTO SOME OVERFLOW, THE OTBD WELDS ON THE SKI YOKE BROKE, THE TIRE/WHEEL WENT INTO THE SNOW AND THE ACFT WENT ONTO ITS BACK.

Part: SKI — DAMAGED (MLG)

UPON ROLL OUT AFTER LANDING IN DEEP SNOW PILOT WAS EXECUTING LT TURN. NOSE OF THE TAIL SKI DUG INTO THE EDGE OF THE TRACKS MADE BY THE MAIN SKIS AT AN ANGLE. THE SUDDEN SIDE LOAD ON THE SKI CAUSED IT TO TWIST AND JAM INTO THE EMPENNAGE SKIN. DAMAGING FUSELAGE BULKHEAD AT STATION 444.38 ALONG WITH SEVERAL STRINGERS AND FUSELAGE SKIN BETWEEN FUSELAGE STATION'S 413 TO 467.5.

Part: STRUT — CRACKED (RT UPPER AXLE AT)

RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR LEG FOUND CRACKED IN UPPER AXLE ATTACH BOLT HOLE TO LEADING EDGE. AIRCRAFT OPERATED ON C4000 WHEEL SKIS. 1,032 HRS SINCE LAST INSPECTION (MAGNAFLUX) OF GEAR LEG. (X)

Part: SWITCH — LOOSE (PROP SYNC SYS)

FLT 1031 - ABQ-ROW - EN ROUTE TO ROW,THE CREW REPORTED WHEN THE CO-PILOT PUSHED HIS PATCH SYNC SWITCH THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR POPPED AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE SWITCH. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN ROW WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FERRIED TO FMN WHERE MAINTENANCE RESEATED THE PITCH SYNC SWITCH, OPS CHECKED GOOD. AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE. (M)

Part: INSTRUMENT PANEL — SMOKING (COCKPIT)

AIRSHUTTLE 5268 - FLG-PHX - AFTER CLIMB-OUT, THE FIRST OFFICER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE PANEL. THE CREW DUMPED CABIN PRESSURE WHICH CLEARED THE SMOKE. THE CREW THEN DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED IN PHX. MAINTENANCE T/S THE SYSTEM AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DISCREPANCY. AIRCRAFT LANDED IN RETURNED TO SERVICE. (M)

Part: AIR DISTRIBUTION — ODOR (CABIN)

AIRSHUTTLE - FLT 5240 - PHX-YUM - THE CREW REPORTED FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN FROM THE ENVIRO SYSTEM, BLEEDS WERE SELECTED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN PHX, NO EMERGENCY WAS DELCARED. MECHANICS INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT, PERFORMED ENGINE RUNUP AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DISCREPANCY. CONDENSATION IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE CAUSED THE FUMES. AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED FOR SERVICE. (M)

Part: AIR DISTRIBUTION — SMOKE (COCKPIT)

FLT 5124 - FHU-PHX - DURING FINAL APPROACH, THE CAPTAIN NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENT UNDER THE F/O'S SEAT. THE CREW SELECTED BLEEDS OFF AND LANDED IN PHX WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED THE DUCTING AND THE VENT BLOWER. PERFORMED ENGINE RUNS FOR 20 MINUTES, NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE. (M)

Part: BOLTS — SHEARED (NR 4 CYLINDER)

ABRUPT ENGINE ROUGHNESS NOTED IN-FLIGHT. RETURNED TO AIRPORT, INSPECTION REVEALED THAT 3 EACH CYLINDER STUDS AND 2 EACH THROUGH-BOLTS ON THE NR 4 CYLINDER HAD SHEARED OFF. ALL ENGINE INSTRUMENTS GAVE NORMAL INDICATIONS. ENGINE REMOVED AND SENT TO AN ENGINE FACILITY FOR INSPECTION.