Summary
On August 21, 1995, a Embraer EMB-120RT (N256AS) was involved in an accident near Carrollton, GA. The accident resulted in 8 fatal injuries, 13 serious injuries, 8 minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The in-flight fatigue fracture and separation of a propeller blade resulting in distortion of the left engine nacelle, causing excessive drag, loss of wing lift, and reduced directional control of the airplane. The fracture was caused by a fatigue crack from multiple corrosion pits that were not discovered by Hamilton Standard because of inadequate and ineffective corporate inspection and repair techniques, training, documentation, and communications. Contributing to the accident was Hamilton Standard's and FAA's failure to require recurrent on-wing ultrasonic inspections of the affected propellers. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the overcast cloud ceiling at the accident site.
Please See NTSB Bluecover Report of Aircraft Accident - NTSB AAR-96/06 for further information regarding this accident.
This accident is documented in NTSB report DCA95MA054. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N256AS.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the in-flight fatigue fracture and separation of a propeller blade resulting in distortion of the left engine nacelle, causing excessive drag, loss of wing lift, and reduced directional control of the airplane. The fracture was caused by a fatigue crack from multiple corrosion pits that were not discovered by Hamilton Standard because of inadequate and ineffective corporate inspection and repair techniques, training, documentation, and communications. Contributing to the accident was Hamilton Standard's and FAA's failure to require recurrent on-wing ultrasonic inspections of the affected propellers. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the overcast cloud ceiling at the accident site.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
Please See NTSB Bluecover Report of Aircraft Accident - NTSB AAR-96/06 for further information regarding this accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DCA95MA054