# NTSB CEN21LA174: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), N568P, Colby, KS, March 10, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 10, 2021, 02:30 local (08:30 UTC)
- Place: Colby, KS
- Coordinates: 39.427669, -101.04859
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4277&lon=-101.0486&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102856
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102856/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102856
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA174

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to remove the towbar from the nose landing gear before takeoff, which resulted in a sustained adverse yaw condition, and his failure to adequately monitor the fuel system while circling the airport, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of power to the right engine.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed on a local flight with the towbar attached to the nose landing gear. When the pilot rotated the airplane for takeoff, he felt the left rudder pedal “slam to the floor,” and he could not depress the right rudder pedal, which resulted in a sustained adverse yaw condition. The airplane climbed and drifted left of the runway, so the pilot continued the climb to pattern altitude. During the climb, he saw the towbar attached to the nosewheel through a mirror on the left engine nacelle. The pilot circled the airport about 30 minutes while assistance arrived. During the last circle, as he was descending, the right engine lost power. The pilot recalled that the right fuel gauge showed “low,” and the left fuel gauge was about 1/2 full. The pilot began to crossfeed fuel to the right engine, but he was unsuccessful in getting the right engine to restart. The pilot was unable to maintain airspeed and altitude and was having difficulty maintaining directional control of the airplane, so he elected to land the airplane in an open field. The airplane sustained damage to the fuselage and right wing during the landing. Although the airplane manual states that the crossfeed is to be used in level flight only, the pilot reported that fuel was being fed to the right fuel tank as evidenced by the fuel gauge indication increasing. The pilot reported the airplane’s altitude was a couple hundred feet above the ground when he turned the crossfeed on and this may have prevented him from having adequate time to restart the engine as he was occupied with trying to land the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On March 10, 2021, about 0230 central daylight time, a Beech 95-B55 airplane, N568P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an airplane accident near Colby, Kansas. The pilot had minor injuries. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. When rotating the airplane for takeoff, the pilot felt the left rudder pedal “slam to the floor” and he could not depress the right rudder pedal. Once airborne, the airplane drifted left of the runway and the pilot was unable to apply enough right rudder to correct the heading, so he continued the climb to pattern altitude. During the climb, he saw the towbar still attached to the nosewheel through the mirror on the left engine nacelle. The pilot circled over the airport and phoned for assistance. The pilot circled the airport at an altitude of 4,000 ft above mean sea level for about 30 minutes while help arrived. While making the last circle, he noticed the right engine lost power. The pilot recalled that the right fuel gauge showed “low, and the left fuel gauge was about 1/2 full. The pilot turned on the crossfeed and the low boost pump. He noted that the right fuel gauge began to increase; however, he reported that he should have turned it on earlier. The pilot reported his altitude was 250 – 300 ft above ground level at this time and he was unable to gain airspeed or altitude. Having difficulty with directional control, the pilot opted to perform a landing to an open field. During the landing, the fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage. The aircraft manual states that the crossfeed is to be used only when the airplane is in level flight. Due to the lack of available mechanics in the local area, a detailed engine examination could not be facilitated.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N568P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N568P), registered now, S/N TC-2162 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55 (T42A) (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-2162
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 3003.7
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO-470 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cap David T
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2020, 29.8 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CBK
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 384.8 total, 193.7 in this make and model, 361.7 as pilot in command, 14.8 in the last 90 days, 3.8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observed at: KCBK

## 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 20210310008439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210310008439A), Mar 10, 2021: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Colby, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot did not perform a good preflight and the aircraft was flown with the electric tow bar attached to the nose wheel, resulting in an off airport landing.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102856. 9.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14228394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%206210%20for%20N568P%203-10-21_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14227779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14228708&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20CEN21LA174-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14232592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20N568P_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Manual except (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14233088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Manuals-Rel.pdf

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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