19991119042119A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech C23 · Fincastle, VA · November 19, 1999

Date: November 19, 1999 · 13:30 local
Place: Fincastle, VA
Airport: Fincastle Airport
Phase of flight: Sfl Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5203M
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC00LA037
Reported as: Beech C23
Reported engine: Lycoming O360*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 441 total62 in this make and model78 in the last 90 days

N5203MRegistration cancelled Oct 4, 2002 · Beech C23S/N M-2003 · Built 1978 Airframe modelBeech C23 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing simulated engine failures near a private airport. About 1,000 feet above the runway, they attempted a go-around. The engine lost all power, and the flight instructor made a forced landing to the airport. He stated that the fuel selector was in the 'left' position when the power loss occurred. He added that the electric fuel pump was on, but it did not effect the low fuel pressure indication. He stated he could not remember if he had time to move the fuel selector to 'right'. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left fuel selector stop was not in a proper position, and its three mounting screws were loose. The stop prevented the fuel selector from entering the 'left' detent. During a test run of the engine, the engine lost all power when the fuel selector was moved less than 1/4 inch from the 'left' detent. (-23)narrative NYC00LA035

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE PRACTICING SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURES NEAR A PRIVATE AIRPORT. ABOUT 1,000 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, THEY ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR MADE A FORCED LANDING TO THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE 'LEFT' POSITION WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. HE ADDED THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS ON, BUT IT DID NOT EFFECT THE LOW FUEL PRESSURE INDICATION. HE STATED HE COULD NOT REMEMBER IF HE HAD TIME TO MOVE THE FUEL SELECTOR TO 'RIGHT'. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR STOP WAS NOT IN A PROPER POSITION, AND ITS THREE MOUNTING SCREWS WERE LOOSE. THE STOP PREVENTED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM ENTERING THE 'LEFT' DETENT. DURING A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS MOVED LESS THAN 1/4 INCH FROM THE 'LEFT' DETENT. (-23)NARRATIVE NYC00LA035

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC00LA037Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFincastle, VAThe restricted movement of the fuel selector and the pilot-in-command's failure to verify the fuel selector was in a proper position.Nov 19, 1999 · Substantial damage