# Accident 20240116002059A: Beck Michael J SONEX, Auburn, WA, January 16, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 16, 2024, 11:30 local time
- Place: Auburn, WA
- Airport: Auburn Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3427° N, 122.2224° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3427&lon=-122.2224&mi=10
- Aircraft: N920MB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N920MB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beck Michael J SONEX (registry code 05632AZ, https://openairdocs.org/model/beck-michael-j-sonex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Aeroconver AEROVEE (registry code 01401, https://openairdocs.org/engine/aeroconver-aerovee) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BECK MICHAEL J SONEX
- Reported engine: AEROCONVER AEROVEE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA074) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240116002059A

## Narrative

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

PIC REPORTED TO THE FAA INSPECTORS THAT HE CONDUCTED HIS NORMAL CHECKS BEFORE TAKING-OFF FROM AUBURN AIRPORT (S50). NO KNOWN ISSUES DURING THE PREFLIGHT/PRECHECK/TAXI AND PRE-RUN-UP. PIC CONTINUED TO TAKE-OFF AND ROATATED AS NORMAL. UPON 100FT, HIS ENGINE STARTED TO DEGRADE POWER OUTPUT. THE PIC ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE AND PUSHED THE NOSE FORWARD. THE ENGINE DID REGAIN POWER. AROUND 200FT AGL, THE ENGINE DEGRADED POWER AGAIN. THE PIC TRIED TO ADJUST THE THROTTLE AGAIN RESULTING IN TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE PIC PUSHED THE NOSE AGAIN AND ATEMPTED THREE (3) AIR RETARTS WITH NO AVAIL. THE PIC WAS LOSING ALTITUDE AND SELECTED A FIELD TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE PILOT REALIZED HE WOULD NOT MAKE THE FIELD. HE HAD NOT CHOICE BUT TO LAND ON THE ROAD. THE PIC STATED HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AND TRIED VEER TO THE RIGHT AS MUCH AS HE COULD. HE COULD SEE ON COMING TRAFFIC AND DID NOT WANT TO LAND IN THAT DIRECTION. THE PIC STATED THAT HE HOPED THE CARS BELOW HIM WOULD SEE HIS AIRCRAFT IN DISTRESS AND HOPED THAT HE DID NOT HIT ANY CARS OR PEDISTRIANS. AS THE AIRCRAFT DECENDED, HE HIT A SMALL BILLBOARD SIGN, WHICH CAUSE HIS AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE 180 DEGREES BEFORE HITTING THE CONCRETE ROAD. THE INITAL HIT OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSE THE PLANE TO FLIP OVER AND COME TO A REST ON THE SIDE OF A CHAINLINK FENCE.

## 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 WPR24LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA074), Jan 16, 2024: Beck Michael J Sonex (N920MB), Auburn, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Water contamination within the fuel regulator air-reference system, which resulted in improper fuel metering and a loss of engine power during initial climb.

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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