Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  Beech Weekly Accident Update archives

April 2004 Reports

Official information from FAA and NTSB sources (unless otherwise noted).  Editorial comments (contained in parentheses), year-to-date summary and closing comments are those of the author.  All information is preliminary and subject to change.  Comments on preliminary topics are meant solely to enhance flying safety.  Please use these reports to help you more accurately evaluate the potential risks when you make your own decisions about how and when to fly.  Please accept my sincere personal condolences if anyone you know was in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.  Fly safe, and have fun!

Copyright 2004 Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  All Rights Reserved

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

3/6 1600Z (1100 local): During a "training" flight the lone occupant of a Be35 was flying a practice ILS approach into Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. During the approach, quoting the pilot from the NTSB report, "two airplanes flew over the runway's threshold at about 1,000 feet and two helicopters were hovering over the taxiway next to the runway, which distracted his attention and (he) 'did not lower the landing gear' before landing. The airplane landed on its belly and skidded to a stop on the runway. The pilot further stated there were 'no' mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident."  The pilot reports no injuries and damage is deemed "substantial."  Weather was VMC.  N4010A is a 1970 V35B registered since 1988  to a private owner in Bay St. Louis.

("Gear up landing"; "Substantial damage"-a classic case of pilot distraction)

3/21 2005Z (1405 local):  A Be33 bounced on landing and its nosegear collapsed, at Wahoo, Nebraska.  The pilot has "unknown" injuries, the airplane "substantial" damage.  Weather is also "unknown."  N3077H is a 1987 F33A registered since 1995 to a co-ownership in Omaha, NE.

("Hard landing-gear collapse"; "Substantial damage")

3/27 1610Z (1010 local):  A Be35 completed an IFR flight with a visual landing at Millington, Tennessee, and the nosegear collapsed.  The solo pilot was unhurt and damage is deemed "minor."  Weather: "few clouds" at 10,000 feet, 25,000 scattered; visibility 10 miles with a 14-knot surface wind.  N6037E is a 1959 K35 registered since 1993 to an individual in Bartlett, TN.

("Gear collapse on landing")


3/27 2245Z (1645 local):  A Be36 was departing David Wayne Hooks Airport, Houston, Texas on a "ferry" flight to Fulshear, Texas, but it "lost power and landed in a field" two miles southwest of Hooks.  The two aboard were not hurt and there is no reported airplane damage.  Weather was "few clouds" at 2500, 3600 scattered 6000 broken, visibility 10 with surface winds from 130 degrees at 18 gusting to 20 knots.  N6778N is a 1983 A36 registered since 1994 in the Experimental category with an "unknown" engine type, to a corporation in Richmond, TX.

("Engine failure on takeoff"-there's no indication of the significance, if any, of this being a "ferry" flight [i.e., if prior engine or fuel-related problems required additional work at the time] or the "unknown engine type).

3/29 1715Z (1115 local):  Departing from Lees Summit, Missouri, a Be36 pilot "pulled up the gear" just before "the engine quit."  The pilot then "extended the gear and landed on the very end of the runway;" the Bonanza "slid to a stop" with no injury to the two on board and "minor" damage. Weather for the flight, departing IFR for Wichita, Kansas, was "clear and 10" with a five-knot wind.  N628SF is a 2000 B36TC recently (April 2003) registered to a Wilmington, DE corporation.

("Engine failure on takeoff"; "Recent registration"-a reader reports the following, reprinted by permission: "I was at Lees Summit Airport right after the incident.. This was a 200 hour airplane that lost power on takeoff. They have not determined yet why it lost power. I heard the FAA inspector speculate that it was something due to the change in angle of attack on takeoff, but that is only his speculation.
 

"The interesting thing was, I overheard the FAA inspector interview an eyewitness. The plane lost power and (the two on board) knew they would over run the runway. The PIC/owner as I understand it was a 500 hour pilot and he told the witness that his [factory-sponsored] training dictated they leave the gear up for an off airport landing. There was another high time [20,000 hrs + ?] pilot/instructor on board [I do not know if dual was being given] and she/he dropped the gear. According to the witness the gear locked down right at touchdown. The high time pilot felt the gear needed to be down to slow them down as they rolled down the hill. So the plane ran off the end of the runway, down a hill to the right and they spun it sideways to avoid going into a fence, ditch, [and] road. It had just rained and the ground was muddy, and they stopped it just short of the fence. I saw the tracks; it looks like some kid was doing donuts in the field with his car. But besides a very muddy plane, [there is] no apparent damage. That the landing gear held up was amazing. They towed it out and washed it off.
 

"Back to the gear down vs gear up. The FAA inspector said his preference is always leave the gear down to absorb energy. If the owner pilot had been alone he would have left the gear up and totaled a $600,000 airplane. Interesting paradox."

FWIW, I've always taught lowering the gear for an off-airport landing [except if landing in water] if it does nothing more than absorb the shock of impact)

4/1 1845Z (1245 local):  A "pleasure" flight from Sebetha, Kansas, to Nebraska City, Nebraska, ended with a gear up landing for a Be35.  The two aboard report no injury; damage is "substantial."  Weather at Nebraska City was "clear and 10" with a three-knot wind.  N8446A is a 1948 A35 registered since 2002 to an individual in St. Joseph, MO.

("Gear up")

4/2 0100Z (1800 local 4/1/04):  A "training" Be58's "gear would not retract" on departure from Farmington, New Mexico.  "Upon visual inspection (from) the tower, (the) gear appeared cocked at 90 degrees."  The Baron landed with no injuries to the two aboard, and "minor" damage.  Weather at KFMN: sky clear, visibility eight miles, with calm surface winds.  N3149P is a 1987 Model 58 registered to an airline-sponsored pilot training program in Farmington.

("Landing gear: known mechanical malfunction"; "Dual instruction"-given its mission and years in service, this Baron has experienced a very high number of takeoff and landing cycles.)

 

NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings.

**3/6 V35B gear up at Bay St. Louis, MS (cited above).   http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20040330X00388&key=1**


**3/20 V35B landing gear collapse at Jacksonville, FL.  From the report: "The pilot said during taxi after landing he went to retract the flaps, and inadvertently retracted the landing gear. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The FAA air safety inspector who examined the airplane said the box beam that supports the landing gear transmission was damaged, and would have to be replaced. He said additionally the landing gear, gear doors, and the propeller were also damaged."  Change "Gear collapse on landing" to "Gear collapse-inadvertent pilot activate of gear on ground" and add "substantial damage." http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20040329X00381&key=1 **
 

UPDATE

Re: the 4/2 Baron landing gear mechanical mishap at Farmington, NM:  A reader, the chief instructor of the school operating the Baron reports: "During the first takeoff of that flight the crew heard a loud noise on the left side and the in-transit light stayed on.  They put the gear handle down again and got 3 green.  Thinking maybe everything was OK, retracted again with the same result.  (They) got 3 green again on the down cycle.  (Ground and flight crews were) all talking on the radio and convincing ourselves all was OK for a normal landing.  The high-time instructor decided on doing a flyby the tower to check...and tower and one of our mechanics saw the left main wheel rotated 90 degrees from being aligned with the longitudinal axis. Several of our mechanics (then began) looking at other planes to try to figure out what has happened.  It's pretty clear that the torque knee must have failed or come disconnected, allowing the (gear) piston to extend and basically (hang) by the brake line but with the top end of the piston still inside the gear strut.  We all agreed not to try another retraction...in the event the wheel might do even more damage and possibly break the actuating rod. The crew did an absolutely perfect job of landing near the approach end (of a dirt runway, shutting everything down in the flare, and touching a bit flat and fast to try to hold the left side off as long as possible.  The left wheel, hanging down an extra foot or so hit the ground and separated immediately taking off about 2-3 inches of the strut with it, but the pilot was able to hold the remaining strut off for about 2-300 feet with the right main and nose on the runway.  As the strut settled into the soft dirt, the plane began a slow yaw to the left, ending up at the edge of the runway about 70 degrees off runway heading to the left.  The left prop blades and left flap were all that touched the ground as the strut held some of the aircraft weight. We recovered all the parts (and found) the cause of the problem, the large pin that came out of the lower connection between the torque knee and the gear piston.  The pin was on the runway that they had taken off from. What caused that pin to come out we don't know.  It is held in position with another pin which goes through the middle of it.  That smaller pin is then cotter-pinned in position.  Both main gear and the nose gear had been completely overhauled about 75 hours prior, so we don't think that smaller pin could have been out or not cotter-pinned that whole time. I think its more likely that either the cotter pin failed or the smaller pin failed but we'll never know.  At any rate, the larger pin then worked its way out causing the gear malfunction.  Needless to say we are having a show and tell at our next safety meeting with closeup pictures of what it is supposed to look like so that preflights can check these pins more closely."  The reader adds that "it is important to note that if you suspect a gear problem and you have three green do not recycle the gear and do a flyby (inspection) if possible."  Thanks, reader, for your insights.

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

4/4 1850Z (1250 local):  Two on a local "pleasure" flight suffered "serious" injuries when a Be35's "engine failed" and the Bonanza "crashed into a parking lot," at Big Rapids, Michigan.  The airplane has "substantial"
damage.  Weather in the area: "clear and 10" with surface winds at 13 gusting to 22 knots.  N1922D is a 1952 C35 registered since 2001 to a corporation in Pinckney, MI.

("Engine failure in flight"; "Serious injuries"; "Substantial damage")

4/5 1520Z (1120 local):  Attempting to take off from Elko, Nevada, two aboard a Be35 have "serious" injuries resulting when their airplane "ran off the end of the runway, through a fence, across (a) highway and into a field."  The aircraft "caught fire and was destroyed."  Weather : "unknown."  www.aero-news.net reports this was a "New Jersey couple."  The account continues: "To the tower, it didn't appear he climbed at a normal rate of climb," said airport director Cris Jensen."  N7923M was a 1966 V35 registered since 1999 to a corporation headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

("Runway overrun/high density altitude conditions"; "Serious injuries"; "Aircraft destroyed"--Elko's field elevation is 5140 feet)

4/6 2015Z (1415 local):  A Be60's nose gear collapsed on landing following a "ferry" flight from Las Cruces, New Mexico to Deming, NM.  The solo pilot reports no injury and damage is "minor."  Weather at Deming: 5500 scattered, 11,000 scattered, visibility 10 with winds at seven gusting to 18 knots. N62V is a 1970 A60 Duke registered since 2000 to an individual in Granbury, Texas.

("Gear collapse on landing")

4/6 2250Z (1850 local):  The lone pilot of a Be55 escaped injury despite "substantial" aircraft damage, when a Be55 "on takeoff stalled and crashed in a field," at Montague, Georgia.  Weather was "clear and 10" with calm winds.  N686H is a 1962 A55 registered since 2002 to a co-ownership in Anchorage, Alaska.
 

("Stall on takeoff"; "Substantial damage")

NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings.

**There are no newly posted NTSB reports for piston Beechcraft this week**
 

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

4/8 1124Z (0724 local):  A Be19 "was performing (touch and goes) at Norwood Memorial Airport (Norwood, Massachusetts)" when it "experienced wind shear and clipped some trees."   The aircraft "landed without further incident.  The solo pilot reports no injuries; "minor" damage was limited to the airplane's right wing.  Weather at the time was "not reported."  N2371W is a 1966 A23-19 recently (November 2003) registered to an individual in Holbrook, MA.

("Impact with object during takeoff-wind shear"; "Recent registration")


NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings.

**4/4 serious injury C35 engine failure at Big Rapids, Michigan.  Refuting the original report that both aboard had serious injuries, the NTSB now relates that "the pilot was uninjured and the passenger received serious injuries."  http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20040414X00464&key=1 **


**4/5 double-serious-injury V35B density altitude-related takeoff at Elko, Nevada.  The airplane apparently never got out of ground effect on the 7200-foot runway, elevation 5140 feet MSL. http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20040409X00440&key=1 **
 

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

4/15 1800Z (1400 local):  Completing a flight from Hershey, Pennsylvania, a Be35 landed gear up at Bunnell, Florida.  The two aboard were not hurt and damage is "minor."  Weather at nearby Daytona Beach was "clear and 10" with an 11-knot wind.  N183DM is a 1966 V35 registered since 2001 to an individual in Hershey, PA.

("Gear up landing")

4/17 1355Z (0855 local):  During a dual "training" flight a Be23 departed the paved runway at Lake in the Hills, Illinois.  When the crew "attempted to return to the paved surface" the "nose and left main gear sheared off." Pilot and instructor were not hurt; damage is "substantial."  Weather: "few clouds" at 6000 feet, visibility six miles in haze, with variable winds at three knots.  N6715X is a 1979 C23 registered since 1998 to an FBO in Wheeling, Illinois.

("Loss of directional control on landing"; "Substantial damage"; "Dual instruction")

4/18 1750Z (1250 local):  While taxiing at McAlester, Oklahoma during a "ferry" flight from Moultrie, Georgia to Hooker, Oklahoma, the landing gear of a Be35 collapsed.  There were no injuries and damage is "minor."  Weather at McAlester: 2900 scattered, 3500 scattered, visibility 10 miles, with surface winds at 19 gusting to 26 knots.  N3396C is a 1955 F35 registered since 1997 to an individual in Valrico, Florida.

("Gear collapse--taxi"-the "ferry" flight suggests the Bonanza may have been sold to a new owner.)

4/18 2030Z (1630 local):  A Be36 landed gear up on Runway 16R at Manassas, Virginia.  The solo pilot reports no injury; damage and weather conditions are "unknown."  N2201U is a 1997 B36TC registered since 2000 to a corporation in Alexandria, Virginia.

("Gear up landing")

4/21 2114Z (1414 local):  The pilot of a Be36 "lost control" on takeoff and "force landed in the midfield" during a "training" flight at Byron, California.  Pilot and instructor report no injury; damage and local weather conditions are "unknown."  N527RS is/was a 1999 A36 registered since 2000 to a corporation in San Francisco, California.

("Loss of control on takeoff"; "Dual instruction")

4/21 2355Z (1855 local):  A Be35 was landing on runway 27 at Wetumpka, Alabama when its nose gear collapsed.  The two aboard the "business" flight were not hurt and damage is "minor."  Weather at nearby Montgomery, Alabama, was 9000 scattered, visibility 10 miles, with surface winds from 200 degrees at nine gusting to 14 knots.  N211SH is a 1979 V35B recently registered (January 2004) to a corporation in Millbrook, Alabama.

("Gear collapse on landing"; "Recent registration"-might the gusty, nearly direct crosswind have been a factor?)


NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings.

**3/21 F33A "very hard landing" mishap at Wahoo, Nebraska. http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20040419X00483&key=1 .**
 

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

4/23 0030Z (1930 local):  During freight operations the "tail gear" of a Be18 was "partially extended and collapsed on landing" at San Antonio, Texas.  The two aboard were not hurt; damage is "minor."  Weather: "few clouds" at 3100 feet, visibility 10 miles with a 10-knot wind.  N666AK is a

("Landing gear: known mechanical malfunction")


4/28 1930Z (1530 local):  A Be36 was "destroyed," a passenger suffering "serious" injuries, when the Bonanza "experienced engine failure on takeoff" at Bedford, Massachusetts.  The pilot, the only other occupant of the aircraft, reports no injury.  Weather: 7000 broken, visibility 10 miles, winds at 11 gusting to 22 knots.  N3243P was an A36, year unreported serial number E-2943, recently (December 2003) registered to a corporation based in Dover, Delaware.

("Engine failure on takeoff"; "Serious injuries"; "Aircraft destroyed"; "Recent registration")

4/28 2130Z (1530 local):  A Be55's landing gear "folded" at the completion of a "business" flight at Rifle, Colorado.  The Baron "skidded to the right side of the runway;" the two aboard report no injury and damage is "unknown."  Weather at Rifle was "clear and 10" with surface winds from 240 degrees at 14 gusting to 23 knots.  N282JL is a 1967 C55 registered since 1995 to a corporation in Carbondale, Colorado.

("Gear collapse on landing"-winds may likely have been a factor)


NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly
Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings.

**4/6 A55 departure stall at Montague, California.  A commercial pilot was practicing short-field takeoffs with the airplane's owner in the right seat. After landing on 2080-foot sod Runway 23, the airplane "spun around" and attempted to depart reciprocal Runway 5 from a point "approximately 600 feet" from the end of Runway 23, using 20 degrees of flaps.  The airplane "bounced into the air" rollover of an intersecting asphalt runway and became uncontrollable in flight. http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20040429X00534&key=1.**

**4/17 C23 loss of directional control during a commanded go-around on a dual instructional flight. http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20040429X00532&key=1 .**
 

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