# NTSB ATL83LA077: Beech 58P, N2038P, Charleston, SC, December 30, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 30, 1982, 14:57 local (19:57 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, SC
- Location: 32.8986° N, 80.0405° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHARLESTON AFB/INTL (CHS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8986&lon=-80.0405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70197
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70197/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA077

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - electrical system,alternator - water (cause)
  - electrical system,alternator - inoperative (cause)
  - electrical system - reduced, pilot in command
  - electrical system - failure,total (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - engaged (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ABOUT 40 MI FROM DESTINATION IN HEAVY RAIN, BOTH ALTERNATORS FAILED. ELECTRICAL LOAD WAS REDUCED & A RADAR MONITORED ILS APCH WAS MADE. AFTER DESCENT THROUGH THE CLOUDS INTO VMC AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR ELECTRICALLY.AT THAT TIME ALL ELECT POWER WAS LOST. THE MANUAL EMERG GEAR EXTENSION WAS USED UNTIL RESISTANCE WAS FELT. DURING THE LANDING THE GEAR RETRACTED. THE LANDING GEAR MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS NOT PULLED PRIOR TO THE GEAR BEING CRANKED DOWN IAW THE PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK. CESSNA ACFT CORP HAD PUBLISHED 2 SERVICE INFO LETTERS WHICH APPLIED TO ACFT EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME ENG/ALTERNATOR INSTALLATION AS THE ACCIDENT ACFT. THESE LETTERS RESULTED FROM MOISTURE INDUCED INTERRUPTION OF ALTERNATOR OUTPUT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENG/ALTERNATOR/COWLING INSTALLATION OF THE BE-58P IS SIMILAR TO THECESSNA ACFT AFFECTED BY THE LETTER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2038P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-166
- Airframe hours: 482
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-L 301 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Helfrick, Edward W.
- Registered owner: Helfrick, Edward W.
- Departed: PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Destination: FORT PIERCE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CHS, Charleston Afb/Inter., runway 33, 9,001 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 120 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHS

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821230065199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821230065199A), Dec 30, 1982: Beech 58P, Charleston, SC, Substantial damage. Both alternators quit in heavy rain. Used manual gear extension. Failed to pull circuit breaker. Gear folded landing.

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.

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