# Accident 20170914019369A: Beech C23, Machias, ME, September 14, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 2017, 11:00 local time
- Place: Machias, ME
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.7031° N, 67.4786° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7031&lon=-67.4786&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2120W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2120W-2018-03-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech C23 (registry code 1151242, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 155 total, 85 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA325) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170914019369A

## Narrative

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

THURSDAY MORNING , SEPTEMBER 14, 2017, PILOT PREPARED A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT DEPARTING KAUG TO

KMVM, KLRG AND BACK TO KAUG. PILOT HAD GONE OVER HIS FLIGHT PLAN WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AT MAINE

INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. PILOT CONTACTED FLIGHT SERVICES TO FILE HIS VFR FLIGHT PLAN. PILOT CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT  AND INDICATED HE HAD FULL FUEL TANKS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED

OK.

PILOT DEPARTED KAUG AT ROUGHLY 10:15 AND WAS ON HIS WAY TO KMVM. PILOT INDICATED ABOUT 10MILES FROM KMVM HE BEGAN DESCENDING TO PATTERN ALTITUDE AND MADE A RADIO

CALL. HE ENTERED THE DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 36. EVERYTHING WAS STILL GOING SMOOTH. AS HE BEGAN HIS TURN

FOR THE BASE LEG THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND ESTIMATED THAT THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER ABOUT 15 TO 20 SECONDS AFTER HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT. PILOT STARTED A FLOW CHECK TO SEE IF I COULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HE HAD MIXTURE FULL RICH, CARB HEAT ON, AND FUEL BOOST PUMP ON, AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE

FAILED COMPLETELY. HE CUT THE BASE LEG AT A 45 STRAIGHT FOR THE RUNWAY PITCHING FOR BEST GLIDE RATE. PILOT STATED

"AS I GOT CLOSER I REALIZED I WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. THERE WAS A SMALL GRASSY AREA JUST

BEFORE THE RUNWAY. I MADE THE DECISION TO GO FOR A SOFT FIELD LANDING AND ROLL ONTO THE RUNWAY. I

TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GRASS TRYING TO MAKE IT SOFT AS POSSIBLE AND KEEP THE NOSE WHEEL UP. THE

GROUND WAS MUCH SOFTER THAN EXPECTED AND THE LANDING GEARS SANK INTO THE GROUND CAUSING THE

NOSE TO HIT HARD AND BREAK THE LANDING GEAR OFF. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SPUN AROUND FACING THE DIRECTION I WAS COMING FROM. I TOOK A MINUTE TO GATHER MYSELF AND REALIZED I WAS LEAKING FUEL. I

SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN AND MOVED AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AT THAT POINT BYSTANDERS RUSHED OUT TO

SEE IF I WAS OK." END.

## 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 ERA17LA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA325), Sep 14, 2017: Beech C23 (N2120W), Machias, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delay in applying carburetor heat, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

## Other reports on N2120W (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19740908029449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740908029449A), Sep 8, 1974: Beech C23 (N2120W), Norfolk, VA, 1 fatal. Enplaning passenger walked into propeller. Aircraft taxi light,strobe light,rotating beacon on.

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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