Air Charter, Inc.

Operated by AIR CHARTER INC DBA (per NTSB report)

The flight crew’s failure to arrest the descent rate during the non-standard approach, which resulted in a hard landing and failure of the right-wing structure. Contributing was the flight instructor’s selection of a challenging approach for initial training.

Operated by Air Charter Inc (per NTSB report)

The pilot’s loss of consciousness during taxi for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Operated by AIR CHARTER INC DBA (per NTSB report)

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not recovered.

Sanction: $5,000 · case closed 2021-08-03

Sanction: $6,000 · case closed 2017-05-18

Sanction: $2,500 · case closed 2013-09-16

Sanction: $6,500 · case closed 2007-01-31

Sanction: $2,500 · case closed 2001-07-26

Part: LIGHT — BURNED OUT (COMPASS) · airframe 8,379 hrs · 15,449 cycles

AFTER CARGO DROP-OFF AT EIS AIRPORT PILOT RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO ENTER RUNWAY AND THEN FOR TAKEOFF. AFTER ALIGNING THE AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY 07 PILOT PROCEEDED TO APPLY TAKEOFF POWER WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE DEVELOPING ON THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD, NEAR THE COMPASS AND MAGNETO SWITCHES. PILOT IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO REDUCE POWER AND OPENED DOOR HATCH/ WINDOW TO VENTILATE CABIN. PILOT PROCEEDED TO INFORM EIS AIRPORT TOWER THAT HE WOULD BE EXITING THE RUNWAY DUE TO SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. AFTER SMOKE CLEARED PILOT NOTICED TWO CIRCUIT BREAKERS HAD TRIPPED THESE BEING LABELED AS "CABIN LIGHTS". WITH NO SMOKE VISIBLE AND THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL PILOT THEN FINISHED TAXIED TO RAMP AND PROCEEDED TO INFORM MAINTENANCE TEAM OF THE SITUATION. MECHANIC INSPECTED AND FOUND THE SMOKE HAD DEVELOPED DUE TO THE MAGNETIC COMPASS LIGHT CABLES MAKING CONTACT HEATING UP THE CABLES AND THEREFORE TRIPPING CIRCUIT BREAKERS ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEM. MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO DEFER THE ITEM UNDER FAA APPROVED MEL FOR BN2A MKIII.

Part: IDLER GEAR — DAMAGED (ENGINE) · airframe 21,816 hrs · 84,532 cycles

PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT FROM TJIG TO TJCP LEFT ENGINE OIL PRESSURE STARTED DROPPING AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS PROPELLER FETHERED BY ITSELF AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN. PILOT PERFORMED ENGINE FAILURE PROCEDURE AS PER FLIGHT MANUAL AND DIVERTED TO TJRV AIRPORT, LANDING SAFELY WITHOUT ANY OTHER ISSUES. ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND A DAMAGED REAR CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR. ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND ANOTHER ENGINE INSTALLED, GROUND RUN UP AND LEAK CHECK PERFORMED, NO DISCREPANCIES FOUND, ALL INDICATION NORMAL.

Part: SPARK PLUG — FAULTED (ENGINE) · airframe 16,273 hrs

DURING CLIMB PILOT NOTICED LEFT ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH AND DECIDED TO RETUN TO THE AIRPORT AS PRECAUTION. UPON EXAMINATION MAINTENANCE PERFORMED LEFT ENGINE COLD CHECK AND REPLACED CYLINDERS #1, #3, AND #5 TOP SPARK PLUGS AS PER LYCOMING OH MANUAL CHAPTER 4. PERFORMED GROUND RUNUP AND NO ISSUES FOUND, ENGINE OPERATING AS NORMAL.

Part: SHAFT — BROKEN (GOVERNOR) · airframe 16,240 hrs · 55,370 cycles

AT LANDING IN VIEQUES AIRPORT RIGHT ENGINE PRESENTED EXESIVE VIBRATION, PILOT PERFORMED PREVENTIVE SHUTDOWN. ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR SHAFT BROKEN. PROPELLER GOVERNOR WAS REMOVED AND OVERHAULED PROPELLER GOVERNOR INSTALLED. OPERATIONAL CHECK PERFORMED FOUND NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES.

Part: SHAFT — BROKEN (GOVERNOR) · airframe 16,240 hrs · 55,370 cycles

AT LANDING IN VIEQUES AIRPORT RIGHT ENGINE PRESENTED EXCESSIVE VIBRATION SO PILOT PERFORMED PREVENTIVE SHUTDOWN. ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR SHAFT BROKEN. PROPELLER GOVERNOR WAS REMOVED AND AN OVERHAULED PROPELLER GOVERNOR INSTALLED. OPERATIONAL CHECK WAS PERFORMED AND NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES FOUND AT THIS TIME.

Part: MASTER CYLINDER — BLOCKED (ZONE 700) · airframe 15,394 hrs · 53,418 cycles

AFTER LANDING LOSS BRAKE ACTION.

Part: CRANKSHAFT — BROKEN (RIGHT ENGINE) · airframe 8,759 hrs · 31,400 cycles

AFTER LANDING IN CULEBRA, RIGHT ENGINE QUIT ON TAXI TO THE RAMP. ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT IDLE GEAR FOUND BROKEN. ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED.

Part: CONTROL CABLE — LACK OF LUBE (ZONE 500) · airframe 20,843 hrs · 81,389 cycles

LEFT PROPELLER GETTING STUCK INTERMITTENT.

Part: NONE — NONE · airframe 11,366 hrs · 37,903 cycles

LEFT ENGINE SURGING PRECAUTIONARY SHUT DOWN.

Part: GOVERNOR — DAMAGED (ENGINE) · airframe 6,446 hrs · 10,909 cycles

LOSS OF RPM ON TAKEOFF.

Part: CYLINDER — DAMAGED (ENGINE) · airframe 26,441 hrs · 44,487 cycles

ENGINE LOST POWER.

Part: CRANKSHAFT — FAILED (RT ENGINE) · airframe 5,829 hrs · 9,101 cycles

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT GEAR FAILURE.

Part: PUMP — INOPERATIVE (LT ENGINE) · airframe 19,051 hrs · 26,954 cycles

LEFT HYDRAULIC PUMP OUT.

Part: LINE — CRACKED (FUEL SYSTEM) · airframe 2,867 hrs · 1,768 cycles

NR 2 ENGINE RIGID FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL CONTROL TO THE FUEL MANIFOLD, FOUND CRACKED. RESULTING IN AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND FAILURE TO RESTART IN FLIGHT. REMOVED THE FAILED RIGID LINE AND INSTALLED NEW FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE IAW LMM.

Part: CALIPER — BROKEN (MLG BRAKES) · airframe 17,557 hrs · 50,076 cycles

RIGHT BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATED, THE AIRCRAFT GO OUT OF RUNWAY.

Part: SHAFT — BROKEN (PROP GOVERNOR) · airframe 5,132 hrs · 6,861 cycles

RIGHT PROPELLER GOES TO FEATHER CONDITION. PROPELLER GOVERNOR SHAFT BROKEN.

Part: RUDDER — INOPERATIVE (ZONE 300) · airframe 17,307 hrs · 49,201 cycles

DURING FLIGHT RUDDERS STOPPED RESPONDING.

Part: CALIPER — LEAKING (RT MLG BRAKES) · airframe 16,836 hrs · 47,054 cycles

LOST RT BRAKES EMERGING THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. R & R RT MAIN INBD CALIPER AND LINING.

Part: STUD — BROKEN (ENGINE) · airframe 16,584 hrs · 46,041 cycles

LEFT ENG CYLINDER NR 3 CRANKCASE STUDS BROKEN.

Part: BLADE — CRACKED (PROPELLER) · airframe 11,809 hrs

PROPELLER BLADE FOUND CRACKED AT SHANK.

Part: STUD — BROKEN (RT ENGINE) · airframe 18,284 hrs · 49,538 cycles

RIGHT ENG CYLINDER BASE NR 3 STUDS BROKEN.

Part: CYLINDER — CRACKED (ENGINE) · airframe 11,604 hrs · 25,239 cycles

LEFT ENGINE, CYLINDER 2, CENTER AREA CRACKED.

Part: INDICATOR — OVERHEATED (COCKPIT)

SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. LT ENG CLUSTER OIL TEMP INSTRUMENT OVERHEAT.

Part: CYLINDER — BROKEN (ENGINE)

DURING FLIGHT, ENG SHUTDOWN. ENG CYLINDER BROKEN.

Part: CALIPER — LEAKING (LT BRAKE)

BRAKE CALIPER LT SIDE, LEAKING.

Part: STRINGER — CORRODED (WING)

FUEL LEAK. WING EXTRUSIONS STRINGERS CORRODED.

Part: STRUCTURE — CRACKED (MLG WW)

CRACKS ON BOTH MAIN GEAR NACELLE BOX STRUCTURE SKIN.

Part: DRAG ANGLE — CRACKED (PAX DOOR)

DRAG ANGLE, NB20-6724, CRACKED IN TOP RT CORNER.

Part: BOLT — BROKEN (IDLER GEAR)

BOLT DAMAGE, IDLER GEAR SHAFT BOLT.

Part: ANGLE — CRACKED (LT MLG)

CRACKS ON MAIN GEAR, LT UNDERCARRIAGE ANGLE REAR.

Part: DRIVE ASSY — WORN (GOVERNOR)

(ENGINE INTERNAL) PROPELLER GOVERNOR DRIVE DAMAGE.