# Accident 20041017031089A: Beech H50, Somerville, VA, October 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2004, 14:05 local time
- Place: Somerville, VA
- Airport: Hartwood Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.4872° N, 77.6153° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4872&lon=-77.6153&mi=10
- Aircraft: N171S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171S-2011-06-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech H50 (registry code 1152534, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h50) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming GSO&IGSO-480 series (registry code 41529, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-gso-igso-480-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H50
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC05FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05FA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041017031089A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) DURING TAKEOFF, N171S EXPERIENCED AN APPARENT POWER PROBLEM. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT JUST OFF THE END OF RUNWAY 35 AND DESCENDED AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE INTO THE GROUND.^PRIVACY ^WAS PILOT IN COMMAND ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1999, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED RIGHT ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT SAT FOR FIVE YEARS, WAS RECENTLY SOLD TO ^PRIVACY DATA^, AND HIS MECHANICS WERE HERE WORKING TO GET N171S AIRWORTHY. THE MECHANIC, ^PRIVACY DATA O^ HAD ASKED THE PILOT TO DO A COUPLE OF HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS AND CHECK TO SEE WHAT MANIFOLD PRESSURE THE ENGINES WERE GENERATING. (A STATIC ENGINE RUN WITH SUPERCHARGERS IS NOT ACCURATE ENOUGH TO DETERMINE ACTUAL ENGINE OUTPUT). THE PILOT MADE TWO HIGH SPEED ENGINE RUNS, AND THEN ELECTED TO TRY AND TAKE OFF. THE LANDING GEAR APPEARED TO BE DOWN, AND THE VIDEOTAPE SHOWS THAT THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC05FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05FA006), Oct 17, 2004: Beech H50 (N171S), Hartwood, VA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with full flaps, and subsequent loss of control.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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