N27179

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 11, 2000, at 1313 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N27179, sustained substantial damage during a wake turbulence encounter, about 3.5 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Jay Hawk Air, Anchorage. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.

During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 12, the pilot, who is the director of operations for the operator, said he was returning from a charter flight to Crescent Lake, near Sleetmute, Alaska. He was planning to land at Merrill Field, Anchorage, and was eastbound, about 160 knots indicated airspeed, along the north shore of the Cook Inlet. Near Point Mackenzie, a VFR reporting point in the Class C airspace for the Anchorage area, the pilot was in radio and radar contact with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), air traffic control specialist. Point Mackenzie is about 5 miles on a 320 degree bearing from the Anchorage Airport. The pilot said he was provided with several air traffic advisories for airplanes departing the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, but was not given an advisory about a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 airplane (call sign "FedEx 14 heavy") that was on final approach to land on Runway 14, at the Anchorage International Airport. The pilot said he did not specifically recall seeing the MD-11 before the airplane encountered wake turbulence that produced a violent, vertical wind shear, during which the gear warning horn sounded. The pilot then noticed the MD-11 airplane.

In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) filed by the pilot, the pilot reported that during the wake turbulence encounter, the airplane lurched down violently, and then upward. He wrote that his hands and feet were pulled from the airplane controls, and his radio headset was knocked off. After the encounter, the airplane pitched down about 20 degrees, and rolled about 20 degrees to the right. The pilot said he regained control of the airplane, and continued his flight to Merrill Field. After landing, he notified the FAA of the wake turbulence event.

COMMUNICATIONS

Review of the air-ground radio communications tapes maintained by the FAA at the Anchorage TRACON revealed that the accident airplane pilot communicated with the position of north low radar. No unusual communications were noted between the TRACON facility and the accident airplane during the review of the tapes, however at the time of the wake turbulence encounter, the sound of a warning horn was heard on the approach control radio frequency.

A transcript of the air to ground communications between the airplane and the Anchorage TRACON facility is included in this report.

RADAR DATA

In a review of recorded radar data maintained at the Anchorage TRACON facility depicting the flight paths of the two airplanes, the accident airplane appeared to cross the flight path of the MD-11 at a 90 degree angle, about 900 feet msl, and about 55 seconds after the MD-11. When the accident airplane encountered the wake turbulence, it appeared to be about 300 feet below the flight path of the MD-11, and separated by 2.47 miles. An FAA automation specialist reported the MD-11 airplane was cleared for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 14, and intercepted the glide slope at 1,560 feet. The MD-11 was on the glide path for runway 14, and at the time of the wake turbulence encounter, the pilot of the MD-11 was in radio contact with the Anchorage Tower.

WEATHER DATA

On September 11, 2000, at 1300, an Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) weather broadcast at Anchorage was reporting, in part: Wind, 140 degrees (magnetic) at 10 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds, 3,100 feet scattered, 9,000 feet overcast; temperature, 52 degrees F; dew point, 42 degrees F; altimeter, 29.55 inHg.

DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT

The accident airplane has been modified with wingtip winglets. A postflight inspection of the airplane revealed that the right winglet mounted landing light cover, and the landing light assembly, departed the airplane. The right wing had upward bending and wrinkling of the upper wing surface at the right winglet attach point. Additional wrinkling was noted on the upper-right wing surface, at the mid-span/mid-chord area. Slight upward bending was found at the left winglet attach point.

WAKE TURBULENCE INFORMATION

According to the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), wake turbulence is characterized as two counterrotating cylindrical vortices trailing behind an airplane, generated by the airplane's airfoil. The strength of the vortex is governed by weight, speed, and shape of the wing of the generating airplane. The greatest vortex strength occurs when an airplane is heavy, with a clean configuration, and when slow.

The AIM also states that airport traffic controllers shall apply procedures for separating aircraft under instrument flight rules (IFR). A controller will also provide VFR aircraft the position, altitude, and the direction of flight of large aircraft, including the phrase "caution, wake turbulence" if in the controller's opinion, wake turbulence may adversely affect another aircraft. The AIM continues by stating: "Whether or not a warning has been given, however, the pilot is expected to adjust his/her operations and flight path as necessary to preclude serious wake encounters." In addition, the AIM states that "...flight disciplines necessary to ensure vortex avoidance during visual operations must be exercised by the pilot using the same degree of concern as in collision avoidance since vortex encounters frequently can be as dangerous as collisions."

AIRPORT/AIRSPACE INFORMATION

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is equipped with two parallel hard-surfaced runways on a 060 to 240 degree magnetic orientation, and a single hard-surfaced runway on a 140 to 320 degree magnetic orientation. On the day of the accident, runway 14 was in use for landing traffic.

The airport is within Class C airspace. The Anchorage area has a high volume mix of air carrier, general aviation, and military aircraft. Class D, Class E, and Class G airspace surround, and underlie the Class C area. The arrival corridor for runway 05 at the Elmendorf Air Force Base (7.5 miles north-northeast of Anchorage International Airport) is perpendicular to the arrival corridor for runway 14 at Anchorage. The Point Mackenzie VFR reporting point is an area of high concentration of general aviation airplanes inbound to, and outbound from, the Anchorage area. In addition, the Anchorage area airspace is subject to Federal Aviation Regulation Part 93 (FAR 93). FAR 93 outlines geographic segments and special rules for operating at airports within the Anchorage area.

The Anchorage TRACON is equipped with an airport surveillance radar (ASR) model 8, automated radar terminal system (ARTS) llE system. Radar settings, selected by a controller, are not recorded.

The Anchorage TRACON is a terminal radar approach control facility that provides Class C services. The wake turbulence encounter occurred in the north low radar segment. At the time of the encounter, the outer low and north low radar segments were combined.

TRACON PROCEDURES

According to FAA personnel at the Anchorage air traffic control facility, the radar screen viewed by the air traffic control specialists displays, among other items, a data block (information about each aircraft participating in the Anchorage airspace), radar segments, some geographic reference points, and symbology identifying aircraft positions. A full data block associated with each aircraft includes, among other options, altitude, ground speed, call sign, transponder code, type of aircraft, scratch pad data, a target position symbol, and an aircraft category/TCAS indicator. A partial data block includes a target position symbol, altitude (if within a controller specified altitude filter), scratch pad data, an aircraft/TCAS indicator, and transponder code, if selected.

An "H" designating a heavy aircraft (if assigned), is present as an aircraft category designation in all data blocks (full or partial). A controller may select a full or partial data block at any time.

According to the Anchorage TRACON facility handbook, when an air traffic control specialist relieves another controller, a briefing checklist should be utilized to ensure all pertinent information about aircraft being handled in the sector is exchanged (Section 5-2-2). The checklist is contained within the integrated display system (IDS). The IDS is a separate computer screen used to view a variety of additional data, such as weather data, or ATIS data.

A review of the Anchorage TRACON facility handbook revealed that heavy aircraft outside Class C airspace will be vectored to intercept the final approach course for runway 14, no closer than 10 DME (distance measuring equipment), at or above 3,000 feet msl. Within Class C airspace, heavy aircraft shall be restricted to 2,500 feet msl until they are established on the final approach course. Landing traffic for runway 14, operating south of the north shore of the Cook Inlet, may operate at any altitude. Large twin engine airplanes, operating south of the Beluga power lines (about 10 miles northwest of the Anchorage International Airport), are restricted to 1,600 feet.

In an interview on October 16, 2000, with the TRACON air traffic specialist who was working the north low radar position, he said he relieved a controller working the north low position. He received ...