General Aviation Accident Bulletin

Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents

0

AVweb’sGeneral Aviation Accident Bulletinis taken from the pages of our sister publication,Aviation Safetymagazine, and is published twice a month. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause in the NTSB’s website atwww.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the accident, although some take longer. Find out more aboutAviation Safetyatwww.aviationsafetymagazine.com.


September 1, 2018, Crete, Neb.

Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion

At about 0900 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cornfield following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff. The pilot and right seat passenger received serious injuries; the two rear seat passengers received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that he and his co-owner had flown the airplane the night before the accident; it flew normally without problems. On the morning of the accident, he had to use the low-pressure boost pump to start the engine, but the pre-takeoff run-up was normal. The airplane used most of the 4201-foot-long runway before becoming airborne. On reaching about 500 feet AGL, the pilot determined the engine was not producing full power. He turned on the low-pressure boost pump and climbed to 1000 feet AGL before turning back to the airport. The engine continued losing power, so he conducted a forced landing to a cornfield. A witness reported observing “dark exhaust” trailing the airplane during the takeoff.

September 1, 2018, Harrisville, Mich.

Beechcraft Model K35 Bonanza

The airplane ran off the runway end at about 1430 Eastern time, during an aborted takeoff. The private pilot sustained minor injuries; his three passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

That morning, the pilot added 25 gallons of fuel and the passengers before departing an asphalt runway without issues. During the accident takeoff, he noted that the first 200 feet of the turf runway was soft and consisted of long grass, while the remainder included sand and patches of weeds. He was able to lift the nose wheel off the runway after around 300 feet and the main landing gear lifted off near mid-field. He kept the airplane in ground effect but it would not gain altitude. When the left wing brushed trees, the pilot aborted the takeoff and attempted to stop the airplane in the grass, but collided with trees at the end of the runway.

September 1, 2018, Covington, Tenn.

JetEZ Experimental

At about 1720 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it experienced an in-flight breakup and impacted terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. The solo airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Day visual conditions prevailed.

A witness reported the accident airplane took off, climbed to about 1000 feet AGL, then started a descending 270-degree turn and crossed over the middle of the airport at about 200 feet AGL. The airplane was estimated to be at 200 to 210 knots, in a level pitch and bank attitude. Shortly after crossing the runway, the witness observed the left wing and winglet “oscillate” about five times, then the left wing “exploded.” Pieces of the airplane began falling as it pitched up about 90 degrees, the right wing separated and the airplane descended into a cotton field. The debris field extended some 1000 feet.

The airplane was a two-seat, canard-style, original-design composite, closely resembling a Rutan LongEZ. It was powered by a modified GE-T58-8B turbine engine.

September 1, 2018, Mount Pleasant, Tenn.

Diamond DA40 Star

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1715 Central time during a forced landing to a field, following a total loss of engine power during approach. The solo private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

After a local flight, the pilot returned and entered the airport traffic pattern. While on downwind, he reduced the engine power but the engine quit. The pilot performed remedial actions without success, then realized he would not be able to glide to the runway. The pilot then made a forced landing to a field about a mile from the runway threshold. Examination revealed damage to the wings, but their respective fuel tanks remained intact. Approximately five gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank and 10 to 11 gallons of fuel from the right one. The fuel was 100-low-lead aviation fuel and appeared bright, clear and absent of any visible contamination. The fuel selector was found positioned to the right tank before being turned off by rescue personnel.

September 2, 2018, Indiana, Penn.

Stinson 108

At about 0920 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The student pilot incurred serious injuries; the flight instructor was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

According to the flight instructor, there was about 12.5 gallons of fuel in each tank, totaling 25 gallons. They used the right tank for the beginning of the flight and switched to the left tank after about 35 minutes. They returned to the traffic pattern and performed about five landings, using full carburetor heat during each approach. During the initial climb of the last takeoff, the engine response was “normal” until about 300 feet AGL when it “abruptly” lost all power. The flight instructor took the flight controls, pitched the airplane to maintain airspeed and attempted to regain engine power. He turned the airplane toward a clearing and the airplane struck trees prior to impacting the ground. A fuel sample obtained after the accident discovered solid debris. Fuel was noted in the gascolator, also with debris.


This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue ofAviation Safetymagazine.

For more great content like this,subscribe toAviation Safety!

LEAVE A REPLY