Textron Aviation TTX Inc. T240 accident near Ravendale, California, January 28, 2022
On January 28, 2022 at about 10:25 pm local time, a 2016 Textron Aviation TTX Inc. T240, registered N420WT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Ravendale, California (Ravendale airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate maintenance and inspection of the engine induction system, which resulted in the separation of the right induction tube from the turbocharger compressor outlet and the subsequent loss of engine power during departure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2022 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Ravendale, California · Ravendale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation TTX Inc. T240, built 2016
- Registration
- N420WT · registry record · serial T24002124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor pilot reported that during takeoff about 100 ft above ground level (agl) and near the end of the runway, the engine sustained a sudden loss of engine power. The pilot lowered the nose and extended the flaps for the off-airport forced landing. The airplane impacted the snow-covered terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane indicated that the right induction tube connecting the turbocharger compressor outlet to the intercooler inlet had separated from the turbocharger compressor outlet flange. Two inches of the induction tube was installed into the 3-inch-long rubber coupling, leaving only 1 inch remaining to be installed on the turbocharger compressor outlet flange. It is likely that when the engine was at high RPM during the takeoff climb, the improperly installed lower rubber coupling separated from the turbocharger compressor outlet flange, resulting in the loss of engine power. The engine was installed on an engine test stand and it ran successfully at various RPM settings. The engine test run revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Maintenance records indicated that the last 100-hour inspection was performed two days before the accident. During this inspection the induction tubes would have been removed and inspected.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Maintenance personnel
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Unauthorized maint/repair › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 317 in the last 90 days; 114 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command; 2,820 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 4, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 661 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 599 as pilot in command; 363 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,112 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 26, 2022; 11.3 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-C (piston); 675 hours total
- Operator: Sarkair Inc.
The flight
- Destination: 1Q2 Susanville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,607 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 031° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 11°F (-12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 3035.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from KAAT, 42 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAAT 282255Z AUTO 17016G22KT 10SM CLR 10/M11 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP296 T01001106=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 31, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Onboard Image Recorder - Specialist's Summary Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Airframe and Engine Examination Summary Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Right Induction Tube-photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Engine Test Run Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Continental Motors Service Bulletin SB94-3A | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.