# NTSB ATL94LA113: Beech E18S, N70CB, Laurens, SC, June 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 1994, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Laurens, SC - Coordinates: 34.500137, -82.020744 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5001&lon=-82.0207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3395 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3395/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA113 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON ONE ENGINE FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER TO FEATHER OR BE FEATHERED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - propeller feathering - not attained, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, FOLLOWED BY A FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER TO FEATHER. THE AIRPLANE MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING AND WAS DAMAGED. THE OWNER WAS AUTHORIZED BY AN INSPECTOR TO REMOVE THE AIRPLANE TO HIS HOME BASE FOR EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OPERATOR COULD NOT BE CONTACTED, AND DID NOT PROVIDE A REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 1994, at 1655 eastern daylight time, a Beech E18S, N70CB, collided with the ground, following a loss of engine power, about 3 miles southeast of Laurens County Airport near Laurens, South Carolina. The ferry flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, and one passenger received minor injuries. The accident occurred during the initial takeoff attempt. Reportedly, the pilot was unable to feather the right propeller, after the right engine failed to produce full power. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector visited the accident site. The owner was authorized to move the airplane to his home base for further examination of the engine. The inspector reported that numerous attempts to contact the pilot since the accident have been unsuccessful. A telephone call was received by this office from a doctor at the Laurens County, South Carolina, hospital requesting an address for the pilot, and one of the passengers, involved in the accident. He stated that efforts to contact the men through the address he had, which was the same one held by this office, had been fruitless. Additionally, he stated that the men had failed to pay their medical bills. Attempts to contact the pilot by this office have also been fruitless. The registered owner of the airplane stated, during telephone conversations, that the airplane actually belonged to the pilot. A letter requesting a report of the accident was sent to the pilot's address. The certified return receipt that accompanied the request was returned, signed. However, a report of the accident was not provided. Therefore, information contained in the NTSB Form 6120.4 was obtained from FAA records. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70CB-2013-09-16), registration cancelled 2013-09-16, S/N BA-372, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E18S - Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-372 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Melendez, Jesus - Registered owner: Sky Charter Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special) - Departed: 34A - Destination: MIA, MIAMI, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GSP, 25 nm away ## 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 19940604013889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940604013889A), Jun 4, 1994: Beech E18S, Laurens, SC, Substantial damage. Collided with ground after right engine lost power and unable to feather. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.