On January 20, 1988, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 (registration N349MA) operated by Epps Air was involved in an aviation accident near Teterboro, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight crew's failure to use standard autopilot disengagement procedures following an inadvertent engagement. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A MU-2 aircraft experienced an inadvertent autopilot engagement while climbing through 800 feet, causing the nose to pitch down and right. The flight crew regained control and landed safely at the departure airport without injury.
What happened
The MU-2 departed from its origin airport and began a climb. While ascending through approximately 800 ft AGL, an inadvertent engagement of the autopilot occurred. This activation caused the aircraft's nose to pitch down and to the right. Both pilots immediately took control of the aircraft, successfully maintaining control throughout the incident. The flight crew returned to the point of departure and executed a normal landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of manual control. It was determined that the flight crew did not use standard autopilot disengagement procedures during the event. This procedural deviation contributed to the situation, although the crew ultimately recovered control and completed the flight safely.
Findings
The primary finding relates to the improper handling of the autopilot system. The inadvertent engagement was followed by a failure to follow established protocols for disengaging the system. Despite the unusual aircraft attitude, the crew managed to stabilize the aircraft and land without damage or injury.
Probable cause
The flight crew's failure to use standard autopilot disengagement procedures following an inadvertent engagement.