Fairchild SA227-AC incident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 10, 2012
On November 10, 2012 at about 2:07 am local time, a 1985 Fairchild SA227-AC, registered N619BA, suffered minor damage in an incident during landing (landing roll) near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis St Paul Intl airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loose electrical connections to the hydraulic system and anomalies in the hydraulic shuttle valve and power pack, which resulted in an uncommanded gear unlock and collapse of the left main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to comply with the life limits outlined by the hydraulic power pack’s manufacturer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2012 · about 2:07 am local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Minneapolis St Paul Intl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA227-AC, built 1985 · all SA227-ACs on the register
- Registration
- N619BA · registry record · serial AC619B
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
All three green landing gear indicator lights were illuminated before the pilot landed the airplane. About 50 to 100 feet beyond the touchdown point, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane exited the left side of runway. A postincident examination of the airplane found two loose electrical connections to the hydraulic system and several anomalies in the hydraulic shuttle valve and the hydraulic power pack. It is likely that the hydraulic issues allowed for a movement in the landing gear shuttle valve, which resulted in an uncommanded gear unlock and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear. The hydraulic power pack's manufacturer had issued a service letter regarding life limits on the pack; however, the operator was not in compliance with these limits at the time of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Hyd pwr sys wiring › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Pump, main › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- factor Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › (general) › Operator
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TPE331-11UA (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TPE331-11UA (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bemidji Aviation Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: DLH Duluth MN at 1:27 am
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12R, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KMSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN13IA059.