Thunderbird Airways, Inc.

Part 135 operator · designator T4BA

Data confidence: All records on this page are linked by a shared certificate number or aircraft registration (N-number).

Also recorded as: ENG AVIATION, THUNDERBIRD AIRWAYS, INC., Thunderbird Airways, Inc.

Accident & enforcement record

Events that happened, regardless of the operator's own reporting. Each links to its public source.

NTSB accidents & incidents

No NTSB accidents or incidents linked to this operator.

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 2012–2021. Most-reported systems: Electrical power (24) — 1; Flight controls (27) — 1; Landing gear (32) — 1. Most-common natures of condition, as filed: FLUID LOSS — 1; VIBRATION/BUFFET — 1; VIBRATION/BUFFET; FLUID LOSS — 1.

3 reports on file.

VIBRATION/BUFFET; FLUID LOSS · 2021-03-07 Matched by certificate designator
N287CD · ATA 3244

Part: TIRE — FAILED (MLG) · airframe 8,390 hrs · 6,779 cycles

UPON DEPARTURE FROM KASE TO KHOU, CREW FELT A SMALL BUMP. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, BOTH CREWMEMBERS NOTICED COMPLETE LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND PRESSURE. CREW DECIDED TO DIVERT TO DENVER WHERE A LONG RUNWAY WAS AVAILABLE AS THERE WOULD ONLY BE EMERGENCY BRAKING AND REDUCED LANDING PERFORMANCE. EMERGENCY DECLARED BY ATC. PLANE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT IN DENVER. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT WAS STANDING BY. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, NOTICED #3 TIRE HAD MAJOR/CATASTROPHIC TREAD LOSS WHICH OBVIOUSLY RESULTED IN HYDRAULIC LINE BEING SEVERED AS MAIN GEAR CAME UP INTO WHEEL WELL. SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE SEVERED AS WELL.

Source: SDR T4BA20210314001
VIBRATION/BUFFET · 2012-05-02 Matched by certificate designator
N808VA · ATA 2435

Part: STARTER GEN — DEFECTIVE (LT ENGINE) · airframe 7,561 hrs · 4,882 cycles

ENGINE VIBRATION, NO OTHER INDICATION. PILOTS DIVERTED FOR SERVICE. STARTER GENERATOR FOUND DEFECTIVE 157 HRS PRIOR RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL.

Source: SDR 2012FA0000285
FLUID LOSS · 2012-02-25 Matched by certificate designator
N30GF · ATA 2761

Part: ACTUATOR — LEAKING (RT SPEEDBRAKE) · airframe 8,196 hrs · 5,389 cycles

AFTER LANDING; DURING TAXI THE PILOT NOTICED THE BRAKES AND STEERING ERRATIC. FOR SAFETY, HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINES ON THE TAXI WAY AND INVESTIGATED. PILOT FOUND A LARGE HYDRAULIC SPILL BY THE RT GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED BACK TO THE HANGAR. MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED THAT THE RT INBOARD SPEED BRAKE ACTUATOR HAD A LARGE LEAK.

Source: SDR T4BA20120301440

Linked aircraft

N-numberMake / modelYearStatusLink basis
N287CDMatched 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.

  • N808VA — records 2012 · no longer on the FAA registry
  • N30GF — records 2012 · no longer on the FAA registry