CHOICE AVIATION, LLC

Operated by Choice Aviation, LLC (per NTSB report)

The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during a practice autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Sanction: $6,300 · case closed 2020-10-22

Part: SWITCH — OUT OF ADJUST (ZONE 700) · airframe 7,479 hrs · 6,047 cycles

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM KSAT TO KRDU LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT, GEAR HANDLE WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE DOWN AND LOCK POSITION, FLIGHT CREW DIVERTED BACK TO SAT AND LANDED WITH WITHOUT INCIDENT. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED THE THE AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR RETRACTION SYSTEM AND FOUND NOSE GEAR SQUAT SWITCH OUT OF ADJUSTMENT PREVENTING THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM FOR HANDLE NOT MOVING OUT OF THE DOWN AND LOCK POSITION. MAINTENANCE ADJUSTED THE NOSE GEAR CENTERING SWITCH PN H11-1499 TO PROPER RANGE. MAINTENANCE PERFORMED LANDING GEAR RETRACTION AND EXTENSION CHECKS ALL CHECKED GOOD ALL WORK PERFORMED PER CESSNA 650 CURRENT AMM SECTION 32-60-00 . AIRCRAFT RELEASED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE

Part: NOT ENTERED — NOT ENTERED (NOT ENTERED) · airframe 8,762 hrs · 6,829 cycles

ON DESCENT FOR APPROACH INTO KHOU THE FLIGHT CREW SELECTED LANDING DOWN AFTER LANDING GEAR EXTENDED DOWN THE CREW DID NOT HAVE NOSE GEAR DOWN AND LOCK LIGHT COME ON ALL OTHER INDICATION AND WERE GOOD. FLIGHT CREW NOTIFIED ATC THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CIRCLE THE AIRPORT TO CHECK NOSE LANDING GEAR INDICATION SYSTEM OUT, THAT THEY WERE NOT GETTING A DOWN AND LOCK LIGHT ON THE NOSE GEAR. WHILE THE FLIGHT CREW CIRCLE THE AIRPORT THEY CYCLIC THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM. WHEN THEY CYCLIC THE LANDING SYSTEM AGAIN NOSE GEAR INDICATION WORKED AND ALL OTHER INDICATION SYSTEM CHECKED GOOD. AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY. CHOICE AVIATION MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTED TEXTRON AVIATION AT KHOU TO INSPECT THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM FOR ANY DEFECTS OR MALFUNCTION. NO FAULTS FOUND ON VISUAL INSPECTION , PERFORMED LANDING EXTENSION AND RETRACT CHECKS NO FAULTS NOTED. AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASE TO RETURN TO SERVICE

Part: WIRE — OPEN (ZONE 100) · airframe 11,034 hrs · 8,304 cycles

ACCESSORY DOOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER TAKEOFF FROM SAT .CREW RETURN THE AIRCRAFT TO BASE. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED ACCESSORY DOOR INDICATING SYSTEM FOUND BROKEN WIRE AT AFT TAIL CONE ACCESS DOOR WARNING SWITCH. REPAIRED WIRE AT SWITCH PERFORMED OPERATION CHECK OF DOOR WARNING SYSTEM ALL CHECKS GOOD . ALL WORK WAS PERFORMED PER CURRENT CESSNA 650 AMM 52-70-00 AND WIRING MANUAL 20-10-01

Part: CONTROL MODULE — FAILED (ZONE 100) · airframe 9,830 hrs · 8,008 cycles

WHILE PERFORMING A MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT FOR REPAIRS PERFORMED FOR PRIMARY PITCH TRIM SYSTEM FAILING INTERMIT ON DESCENT. ON ALL OTHER PHASE OF FLIGHT AND ON THE GROUND SYSTEM WORKS CORRECTLY. MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOOT THE PITCH TRIM SYSTEM AND REPLACED WORN BUSHING AND BOLTS FOUND OUT OF LIMITS AT SCISSOR LINKS FOR THE STABILIZE LOWER ATTACHMENT POINT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE BINDING. MAINTENANCE ALSO CHANGE OUT HORIZONTAL TRIM ADVISORY WITH REPAIRED UNIT PART NUMBER: 221-1 (OEM PART NUMBER 9914287-1EX ) SERIAL NUMBER 212. MAINTENANCE PERFORMED THE REQUIRED FUNCTIONAL CHECKS FOR THE PITCH TRIM SYSTEM ON GROUND SYSTEM CHECK GOOD. AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED FOR MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT TO SEE IF REPAIR CORRECTED PROBLEM WITH PRIMARY TRIM SYSTEM. AFTER TAKEOFF FROM SAT CREW LEVEL OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PITCH WARNING ADVISORY CLACKER STARTED SOUNDING OFF WITH NO TRIM INPUT AND NO TRIM MOVEMENT ON TRIM INDICATOR CREW NOTIFY ATC THAT THEY MY BE HAVING PRIMARY TRIM PROBLEM AND DECLARED EMERGENCY AND RETURN BASE SAT . CREW DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT AND HAND FLEW AIRCRAFT MANUALLY, THEN ON DESCENT GOING THROUGH13,00 FEET THE PRIMARY FAILED TO WORK, SWITCH TO SECONDARY TRIM SYSTEM AND LANDED AIRCRAFT SAFELY.

Part: CONTROL MODULE — FAILED (ZONE 100) · airframe 9,830 hrs · 8,008 cycles

WHILE PERFORMING A MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT FOR REPAIRS PERFORMED FOR PRIMARY PITCH TRIM SYSTEM FAILING INTERMIT ON DESCENT. ON ALL OTHER PHASE OF FLIGHT AND ON THE GROUND SYSTEM WORKS CORRECTLY. MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOOT THE PITCH TRIM SYSTEM AND REPLACED WORN BUSHING AND BOLTS FOUND OUT OF LIMITS AT SCISSOR LINKS FOR THE STABILIZE LOWER ATTACHMENT POINT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE BINDING. MAINTENANCE ALSO CHANGE OUT HORIZONTAL TRIM ADVISORY WITH REPAIRED UNIT PART NUMBER: 221-1 (OEM PART NUMBER 9914287-1EX ) SERIAL NUMBER 212. MAINTENANCE PERFORMED THE REQUIRED FUNCTIONAL CHECKS FOR THE PITCH TRIM SYSTEM ON GROUND SYSTEM CHECK GOOD. AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED FOR MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT TO SEE IF REPAIR CORRECTED PROBLEM WITH PRIMARY TRIM SYSTEM. AFTER TAKEOFF FROM SAT CREW LEVEL OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PITCH WARNING ADVISORY CLACKER STARTED SOUNDING OFF WITH NO TRIM INPUT AND NO TRIM MOVEMENT ON TRIM INDICATOR CREW NOTIFY ATC THAT THEY MY BE HAVING PRIMARY TRIM PROBLEM AND DECLARED EMERGENCY AND RETURN BASE SAT . CREW DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT AND HAND FLEW AIRCRAFT MANUALLY, THEN ON DESCENT GOING THROUGH13,00 FEET THE PRIMARY FAILED TO WORK, SWITCH TO SECONDARY TRIM SYSTEM AND LANDED AIRCRAFT SAFELY.

Part: CONTROL HEAD — BURNED OUT (FMS) · airframe 9,558 hrs · 7,822 cycles

AFTER TAKE OFF FROM HOU ON CLIMB OUT ENROUTE TO ASE. THE NUMBER ONE FMS SCREEN FLASHED BRIGHT AND WHEN BLANK AND CREW NOTE FUMES/ODOR LIKE ELECTRIC SMELL THAT SOMETHING BURN OUT. CREW SHUT OFF THE NUMBER ON FMS CONTROL AND PULLED CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THAT UNIT SMELL/ODOR WHEN AWAY. CREW NOTIFIED ATC AND OF POSSIBLE PROBLEM AND DIVERTED TO LBB. CREW LANDED AIRCRAFT SAFELY AT LBB WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEM. MAINTENANCE PERSONAL WERE DISPATCH TO LBB TO CHECK THE AIRCRAFT FOR CAUSE AND ANY DAMAGE. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT CENTER PEDESTAL AREA WERE THE CREW NOTED THE SMELL/ ODOR AND THEY ALSO NOTED A SLIGHT SMELL. MAINTENANCE REMOVED EQUIPMENT FROM THE AIRCRAFT CENTER PEDESTAL, INSPECTED ALL CONNECTION AND WIRES , FOUND NO WIRES OR CONNECTOR BURNED OR DAMAGE AND THE NUMBER FMS UNIT HAD A BURNED ODOR COMING FROM THE CONTROL UNIT ITS SELF

Part: SHUTOFF VALVE — LEAKING (WINDSHIELD) · airframe 15,090 hrs · 13,688 cycles

CABIN WAS NOT PRESSURIZING CORRECTLY , EMERGENCY AIR AND CABIN ALTITUDE ANNUNCIATOR WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. FLIGHT CREW DECALED AN EMERGENCY AND AND PERFORMED A EMERGENCY DECENT AND AND UNSCHEDULED LANDING TO AUS SAFELY. CREW THINKS THE AIRCRAFT CABIN LOSS PRESSURE. MAINTENANCE PERFORMED GROUND PRESSURIZATION CHECKS ON AIRCRAFT THE AIRCRAFT PRESSURIZED ON THE GROUND. MAINTENANCE CHECK FOR FOR AIR LEAKS AND FOUND A SMALL LEAK COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD ANTI SHUTOFF VALVE AND AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN VALVE NOT SEAT. MAINTENANCE MEL THE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM PER THE MEL AND THE AIRCRAFT FLOWN BACK TO OUR MAINTENANCE BASE UNPRESSURIZED FOR REPAIRS AND MORE TROUBLE SHOOT OF SYSTEM.

Part: LINK PIN — DAMAGED (MLG) · airframe 10,389 hrs · 7,838 cycles

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM TEB .WHEN CREW WHEN TO MOVE THE LANDING LEVER TO RETRACT LANDING GEAR THE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT DOWN AND LOCK POSITION. FLIGHT CREW RETURN BACK TO BASE TO HAVE LANDING SYSTEM CHECKED OUT. MAINTENANCE FOUND NOSE GEAR CENTERING SWITCH LINK PIN ASSEMBLY BENT REPLACED WITH NEW PIN ASSEMBLY PER CESSNA 650 C/M/M ,32-20-01, PERFORMED GEAR SWING OPERATIONAL CHECKS IS GOOD

Part: WIRE — SEPARATED (NLG INDICATOR) · airframe 14,995 hrs · 13,680 cycles

ON APPROACH TO BNA CREW SELECTED LANDING GEAR DOWN. THE NOSE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT SHOW DOWN AND LOCK , CREW TESTED LANDING GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT SYSTEM AND THE DOWN LOCK LIGHT (GREEN) TESTED GOOD FOR NOSE GEAR SYSTEM . CREW NOTIFY ATC OF THEIR PROBLEM . ATC DIVERTED THEM TO MQT. CREW PERFORMED EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION PER AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL PROCEDURE AND STILL THEY DID NOT INDICATE NOSE GEAR DOWN AND LOCK. CREW PERFORMED A LOW PASS BY AIRPORT TOWER AND ASK THEM TO CHECK IF THEY CAN SEE IF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN. TOWER NOTIFY THEM THAT THE LANDING GEAR LOOK DOWN. CREW LANDED AIRCRAFT PER THE EMERGENCY GEAR UP PROCEDURE PRE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL JUST IN CASE THE NOSE LANDING WAS NOT LOCKED DOWN. AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY WITH NO LANDING GEAR PROBLEMS. CAUSE OF LANDING GEAR LIGHT INDICATION LIGHT PROBLEM WAS BROKEN WIRE TO TERMINAL BOARD FOR NOSE GEAR DOWN AND LOCK INDICATOR LIGHT SYSTEM

Part: COMPUTER — FAILED (NLG STEERING) · airframe 14,783 hrs · 13,537 cycles

AFTER LANDING WITH STEERING SYSTEM ENGAGED AT END RUNWAY CREW COULD TURN PLANE ONTO TAXI WAY NOTIFY TOWER THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEM WITH TURNING (STEERING) AIRCRAFT. CREW DISENGAGED STEERING SYSTEM AND USED DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING AND ENGINE POWER TO TURN AND TAXI AIRCRAFT OFF RUNWAY TO FBO AT THE AIRPORT. FLIGHT CREW NOTIFIED MAINTENANCE OF PROBLEM, MAINTENANCE HAD THEM MEL THE STEERING SYSTEM, PER THERE APPROVED MEL 32-3 AND HAVE THEM FOLLOW FLIGHT MANUAL LIMITATIONS AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION WITH NOSE WHEEL STEERING INOPERATIVE. WHEN AIRCRAFT RETURN TO HOME BASE MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOOT THE STEERING SYSTEM AND FOUND STEERING COMPUTER CAUSE THE PROBLEM.

Part: LANDING GEAR — MALFUNCTIONED · airframe 10,215 hrs · 7,731 cycles

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM SAT, WHEN THE FLIGHT CREW WERE SELECTING LANDING GEAR UP WITH THE SELECTOR LEVER THE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT THE DOWN AND LOCK POSITION. FLIGHT CREW RADIO TOWER AND REQUESTED TO FLY BY AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT NOSE LANDING GEAR TO SEE IF LOOKS LIKE ITS DOWN AND CENTER AND MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN, TOWER REPORTED TO THEM EVERYTHING LOOK GOOD. ALL COCKPIT INDICATION SHOWED GOOD, ALL THREE LANDING GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS IN THE GREEN AND SELECTOR LEVER IN THE DOWN LOCK POSITION. CREW ELECTED TO PERFORM A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND RETRY LANDING GEAR RETRACTION. LANDING GEAR RETRACTION WORKED NORMALLY. FLIGHT CREW ELECTED CONTINUE FLIGHT TO APA. COMING IN TO APA LANDING GEAR EXTENDED NORMALLY AND LANDED AT APA WITH OUT ANY OTHER ISSUES. MAINTENANCE HAD AN OUTSIDE COMPANY INSPECTED THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEMS CHECKS AND PERFORMED LANDING GEAR RETRACTION AND EXTENSION CHECKS ALL SYSTEM WORK CORRECTLY, PER CESSNA 650 MAINTENANCE MANUAL 32-30-00. THEY RELEASED THE AIRCRAFT FOR RETURN TO SERVICE. POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS ONE TIME PROBLEM STICKING NOSE WHEEL CENTERING SWITCH OR COCKPIT CONFIGURATION.

Part: LINK ASSY — BROKEN (THRUST REVERSER) · airframe 6,865 hrs · 5,431 cycles

FOUND THE LT THRUST REVERSER OTBD UPPER OVER CENTER LINK BALL END PULLED THROUGH DURING A VISUAL INSPECTION. DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM DURING THRUST REVERSER INCOMING INSPECTION OPERATION.

Part: STRAP — CORRODED (ZONE 500) · airframe 6,722 hrs · 5,290 cycles

LEFT WING-FUSELAGE SPAR STRAP CORRODED.

Part: BRACKET — LEAKING (PILOT CONSOLE) · airframe 6,722 hrs · 5,290 cycles

BAROMETRIC SWITCH BOX ASSEMBLY LOOSES PRESSURE AT 1000 FT. HAS LEAK AT MOUNT BRACKET RIVETS.

Part: RESISTOR — OVERHEATED (EMERGENCY LIGHTS) · airframe 6,722 hrs · 5,290 cycles

BOTH EMERGENCY LIGHTS BATTERY BOXES DAMAGE BY AN OVERHEATED CHARGING RESISTOR.

Part: SENSOR — FAULTY (NR 2 PUMP) · airframe 6,626 hrs · 5,190 cycles

NR 2 PUMP LIGHT FLICKERS. REPLACED SENSOR FOR THE NR 2 PUMP ON THE FUSELAGE TANK.

Part: HEATER — INOPERATIVE (AOA) · airframe 6,533 hrs · 5,122 cycles

LEFT AOA TAKES A LONG TIME TO HEAT UP.