1990-12-09: DE Havilland DHC-6-100 — One Papa Mike Corp.

1990-12-09: DE Havilland DHC-6-100 — One Papa Mike Corp. — Perris Valley, CA

Casualties unknown • Perris Valley, CA, US

Probable cause

A LOSS OF POWER ON THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO A FATIGUE FAILURE OF A COMPRESSOR TURBINE BLADE LEADING TO FURTHER COMPRESSOR BLADE DAMAGE; A WORN POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR THROTTLE CAM ASSEMBLY WHICH LED TO LOSS OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE; AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY THE OPERATOR.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

AFTER LIFT-OFF, AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL AND 85 KTS, THE LEFT ENG DECELERATED AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO YAW AND ROLL LEFT. THE PIC ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, TURNED LEFT AND LANDED ON A FLAT LEVEL FIELD. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE, THEN TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENG REVEALED THE LOSS OF POWER WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF A COMPRESSOR TURBINE BLADE, WHICH LED TO SUBSEQUENT BLADE FRACTURES. THE RIGHT ENG WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND TO HAVE ADVANCE WEAR ON THE THROTTLE CAM ASSEMBLY OF THE POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR. IN A TEST CELL, ONLY APRX 28% OF TAKEOFF POWER COULD BE ACHIEVED. THE CAM LOBE WEAR HAD PROGRESSED OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE RIGHT ENGINE PROP GOVERNOR WAS REPLACED 11/18/90, FOLLOWED BY A TEST RUN.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-12-09 DE Havilland DHC-6-100 accident near Perris Valley, CA?

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-12-09 involved a DE Havilland DHC-6-100, registration N121PM, operated by One Papa Mike Corp., at Perris Valley, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A LOSS OF POWER ON THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO A FATIGUE FAILURE OF A COMPRESSOR TURBINE BLADE LEADING TO FURTHER COMPRESSOR BLADE DAMAGE; A WORN POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR THROTTLE CAM ASSEMBLY WHICH LED TO LOSS OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE; AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY THE OPERATOR.

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