On November 21, 1992, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 (registration N473FW) operated by Wayne C. Muhler was involved in an aviation accident near Broomfield, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Torque link not properly connected after towing, resulting in separation during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a cross-country flight preparation in a snow storm, the aircraft was towed out of the hangar. The torque link was not properly connected, separated during takeoff, causing loss of nose wheel steering. The aborted takeoff resulted in a runway excursion and damage.
Incident Overview
In preparation for a cross-country flight, the aircraft was loaded inside a hangar while a snow storm was occurring. After loading, personnel from a fixed-base operator (FBO) towed the aircraft out of the hangar. Following the tow, the torque link on the nose landing gear was not properly connected. During the takeoff run, the torque link separated, leading to a loss of nose wheel steering. The flight crew initiated an aborted takeoff, but the aircraft departed the side of the runway. The nose wheel was sheared off during the excursion, causing damage to both engines, wings, fuselage, and landing gear.
Probable cause
Torque link not properly connected after towing, resulting in separation during takeoff.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…