# NTSB BFO87MA007: Beech 65-A80, N304D, Baltimore, MD, November 8, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1986, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Coordinates: 39.270263, -76.620208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2703&lon=-76.6202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 19, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11343
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87MA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11343/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87MA007

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
  - propeller feathering - not possible
  - precautionary landing - initiated
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - emergency
  - electrical system - undetermined (cause)
  - electrical system,battery - low level (contributing factor)
  - flight/nav instruments,heading indicator - false indication
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate training(emergency procedure(s)), company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,airman, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - attempted
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG CLB AFTER TKOF, L ENG SEIZED. PLT SAID HE ATMTD 1 ENG RESTART; PROP WOULD NOT ROTATE OR FEATHER. NO EMERG DECLARED. PLT STATED ENG SHUT-DWN PROC WAS USED, SCIENTIFIC BUS SWS WERE SHUT OFF, R GEN WAS RECYCLED & APPEARED TO OPER NORMALLY.PLTS GOT IMT VECTOR TO RTRN TO MARTIN (MTN) ARPT, BUT RADAR CTC WAS LOST FOR ATB 5 MIN. ELEC PRBLMS WERE ENCTRD & PLTS HAD PROBM MAINTG HDGS, THUS WERE DELAYED IN DIVERTING TO ALTN. WITH L PROP UNFEATHERED, THEY COULD NOT MAINT ALT. DUE TOBAD WX AT MTN, THEY DIVERTED TO BWI. RADAR & RDO CTC WERE LOST & THEY COULD NOT RCH BWI. DRG FORCED LNDG, ACFT HIT TREE & CRASHED SHORT OF INTENDED LNDG AREA. TEARDOWN OF L ENG REVEALED #4 & #5 CON RODS HAD FAILED AT CRANKSHAFT; THEY WERE DISCOLORED FM HEAT & SCORED; OTR ROD BRGS HAD INDCNS OF OIL STARVATION. METALLIC DEBRIS FM FAILED ENG FND IN OIL SYS. SVRL OIL FEED HOLES TO ROD BRGS WERE OBSTRUCTED WITH METALLIC DEBRIS. FIRE DMGD MOST OF THE ELEC SYS. ACFT (MODIFIED FORENVIRONMENTAL TESTING) NOT FLT TESTED FOR DRAG INDUCING MODS; WRITTEN FLT CREW INSTRNS NOT AVAIL FOR MODS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N304D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65-A80
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LD226
- Airframe hours: 7479
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-540-A1A 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: Executive Fliteways, Inc.
- Registered owner: U.S. Dept. Of Energy
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 7, 1986
- Departed: MTN, BALTIMORE, MD
- Destination: ISP, ISLIP, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BWI, Baltimore-Washington Intl, runway 28, 9,452 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,294 total, 24 in this make and model, 1,882 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWI, 5 nm away

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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