On August 30, 1992, a Cessna 425 (registration N425TV) operated by Daymark Foods Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Greenwood, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN HIS DESCENT RATE RESULTING IN AN UNDERSHOOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CHIP DETECTOR FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER QUALITY CONTROL BY THE MANUFACTURER. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A corporate flight crashed short of the runway after the pilot shut down one engine due to fluctuating oil pressure and retracted landing gear and flaps during a single-engine approach.
Accident Overview
A corporate aircraft was conducting a flight at Flight Level 200 when the pilot experienced fluctuating oil pressure on one engine. The pilot shut down the affected engine and feathered its propeller. An emergency was declared, and the pilot initiated a single-engine approach.
Approach and Crash
During the approach, the pilot observed a high sink rate. In response, the pilot retracted the landing gear and flaps. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed short of the runway.
Post-Accident Findings
After the accident, examination revealed that the chip detector on the engine that had been shut down was broken. The breakage was attributed to the metal being too brittle due to an improper manufacturing process.