# NTSB BFO90FA002: Beech 58P, N86MC, Nokesville, VA, October 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1989, 20:40 local (Oct 26, 1989, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Nokesville, VA
- Location: 38.6930° N, 77.5764° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nokesville, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6930&lon=-77.5764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11536
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11536/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA002

## Probable cause

IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ELEVATOR TRIM ACTUATORS, AND SUBSEQUENT JAMMING OF THE ELEVATOR TRIM IN A NOSE DOWN TRIM POSITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, other
  - flt control syst,elevator trim/tab control - improper (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - flt control syst,elevator trim/tab control - jammed (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER TAKING OFF AT NGT ON RWY 34L, THE ACFT WAS MNVRD TO A LEFT DNWND (SAME RWY). ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENG(S) WENT TO A HI PWR SETTING ON DNWND, BUT THE ACFT SPEED RMND SLOW. APCHG (ABEAM) MIDFIELD, THE ACFT TURNED LEFT, THEN WENTINTO A DSCNT & CRASHED WEST OF THE ARPT. IMPACT WAS ON AN ESE HDG, IN A 15 TO 17 DEG DSCNT. THE LEFT FUEL SLCTR WAS FND IN THE 'OFF' PSN, BUT THE ACTUATING CABLE HAD PULLED THRU THE HOUSING (PRESUMABLY DRG IMPACT). THE RGT FUEL SLCTR WAS ON. BOTH PROPS SEPD FM THE CRANKSHAFT WITH EVIDENCE OF TORSIONAL FAILURE. THERE WAS A HISTORY OF ELEVATOR TRIM (E/T) PROBLEMS. JUST BFR THIS FLT, MAINT HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE E/T. E/T ACTUATORS WERE FND REVERSED, WHICH REVERSED THE DRCTN OF TRIM. BOTH E/T TABS WERE FND BYD THE FULL NOSE DWN TRIM PSN. CALCULATED FORCE TO OVERRIDE AT THE FULL NOSE DWN PSN WAS: 121 TO 136 LBS AT 100 KTS, 197 TO 203 LBS AT 150 KTS, 200 TO 305 LBS AT 200 KTS. ALSO, E/T CHAIN WAS FND OFF OFTHE SPROCKET & JAMMED BTN THE BRG PLATE & A BRACKET; 1 OF 2 BOLTS WAS MISSING FM BRG PLATE; OTR BOLT WAS FINGER TIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86MC-1990-04-02), registration cancelled 1990-04-02, S/N TJ406 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Registry model: [Beech 58P](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58p) (registry code 1152744) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-406
- Airframe hours: 1182
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-WB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: West Springfield Aviation Svcs
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 1989, 36 hours before
- Airport: W10, Manassas Muni, runway 34, 3,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,284 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD, 14 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 19891025042789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891025042789A), Oct 25, 1989: Beech 58P, Manassas, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Night takeoff turned back land 17R. Slow dive crashed. Trim problem. Full down. Chain off sprocket. Installed wrong

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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