Pilot Debrief

PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD PC-12/47E near Austin, TX — 2013-09-12

Final reportCEN13IA563
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Date
2013-09-12
Location
Austin, TX, USA
Airport
AUS
Aircraft
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD PC-12/47E
Registration
N617BG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper weight and balance calculations, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its weight and center-of-gravity limits and led to a loss of pitch control during takeoff, and the operator’s failure to obtain required weight information and to ensure that the flight was properly loaded.

NTSB narrative

Immediately after the airplane lifted off the runway, the pilot lost pitch control, which resulted in a series of pitch oscillations and cockpit stall warnings. The pilot aborted the takeoff, and the airplane subsequently impacted the departure runway. The pilot subsequently stopped the airplane on the remaining runway. The flight was being operated as a commercial on-demand passenger flight. According to the operator's operations specifications, actual passenger and carry-on baggage weights were required to be used to determine a flight's weight and balance; however, the trip schedule that the operator provided to the pilot before the flight did not include the actual passenger weights nor the carry-on baggage weights. A postincident review of weight and balance information revealed that the pilot failed to identify that the baggage weights were not included on the trip schedule and that he subsequently improperly calculated the airplane's weight and balance, which resulted in the exceedance of the aft center-of-gravity and weight limits for the flight. Further, the operator did not ensure that the airplane was loaded properly. Examination of recorded flight data from the onboard lightweight data recorder (LDR) and postincident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The LDR also recorded cockpit audio; however, download of the cockpit audio revealed that 2 hours of the recording, which included the incident flight, had been overwritten before the National Transportation Safety Board received the LDR.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Weight and balance not verified before flight, leading to takeoff issues.

NTSB coding

  • Aircraft loading event · Prior to flight
  • Planning / Preparation

Evidence available

  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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