Accident Overview
On April 24, 2024, about 1010 eastern daylight time, a Socata TBM 850, registration N228CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raleigh, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by Medical Air, Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight.
Flight History
The accident occurred following an aborted landing on runway 32 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). According to preliminary reports from the RDU air traffic control tower, the airplane was cleared to land, then bounced on the runway before it "began a missed approach and started a left turn… then appeared to have stalled and hit the ground."
Airport surveillance video captured the airplane on final approach near the touchdown zone of runway 32. As it neared the surface, it was temporarily obscured by a VOR antenna. A plume consistent with dust or smoke appeared around the propeller and briefly enveloped the fuselage as the airplane continued just above the surface for about 1,500 ft. It then transitioned to a climb attitude and banked left. The climb stopped about 100 ft above ground level, and the airplane slowed while the left bank steepened to nearly 90° before descending to ground contact.
Witness Accounts
According to the passenger, the airplane was "rolling" and "tobogganing…as if we were descending a hill on the snow" during the final approach. He reported two touch downs, after which the pilot appeared to "turn and roll the airplane left as if to take off again." The pilot made no announcements, and there was no communication between them from runway contact to the accident site. The passenger stated that during the bank, "it felt as if the plane lost power" but could not determine if the engine had stopped.
Aircraft Damage
Review of surveillance videos and photographs showed that the airplane impacted the ground with its left wingtip and nose nearly simultaneously. It then rotated an additional 45° before coming to rest upright. The propeller separated from the engine; all four blades displayed gouging and chordwise scratching near the tips. The engine and engine compartment sustained significant impact damage. Aft of the engine, the firewall, windshield posts, windshield, instrument panel, and cockpit area were intact. The fuselage was fractured between the cockpit and cabin. The empennage and vertical stabilizer appeared largely intact, while the horizontal stabilizer was damaged and displaced but remained attached. No evidence of fire was observed.
The left wing was severely impact damaged, with the outboard section destroyed and scattered near the main wreckage. The right wing remained attached and largely intact, with an upward bend at the tip consistent with impact.
The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multiengine land and commercial privileges for airplane single-engine land. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on October 20, 2023. The operator reported the pilot had 16,000 total flight hours, including 2,500 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 2006 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D turboshaft engine rated at 850 shaft horsepower. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on August 24, 2023, at 4,402 total aircraft hours. The Hobbs time at the accident site was 4,524 hours.