| Date: | Friday 30 May 2014 |
| Time: | 09:30 |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Texas Turbine Otter |
| Owner/operator: | Alaska Air Taxi |
| Registration: | N3125N |
| MSN: | 394 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1960 |
| Engine model: | Garrett TPE331 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor, repaired |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Homer, AK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Sedona Airport, AZ (SDX/KSEZ) |
| Anchorage-Ted Stevens International Airport, AK (ANC/PANC) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A de Havilland DHC-3T Turbine Otter airplane, experienced an anomalous in-flight vibration and uncommanded nose-down pitch during cruise flight in the vicinity of Homer, Alaska. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right elevator. The flight departed Seldovia, Alaska, about 0900, en route to Anchorage, Alaska.
According to the pilot, during cruise flight, the airplane vibrated and subsequently pitched nose-down. The pilot applied corrections and continued the flight to the destination. After landing, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found that the skin on the right elevator servo tab was separated from the hinge, and spar structures inside the right elevator were cracked.
This same aircraft, N3125N, was involved in an accident on 4 June 2015, when during cruise flight, while applying back pressure to the control yoke, a vibration was felt. The pilot immediately reduced power and executed a precautionary landing. After landing it was found that the skin on the right elevator servo tab was fractured and separated from the hinge, and spar structures inside the right elevator were cracked.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flutter failure of the right elevator servo tab due to the improper fabrication of the servo tab and maintenance personnels subsequent failure to detect anomalies with the servo tab."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 4 June 2015 | N3125N | Alaska Air Taxi | 0 | near Skwentna, AK | |
sub |
| 15 September 2020 | N3125N | Katmai Air | 0 | Naknek Lake, Katmai National Park, AK | |
unk |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation