# NTSB CEN21LA457: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), N85RR, Lancaster, OH, September 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 24, 2021, 13:07 local (17:07 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, OH - Coordinates: 39.751822, -82.654257 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7518&lon=-82.6543&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA457 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103975/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103975 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA457 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger departed on a flight to add fuel to the airplane’s fuel tanks. The airplane was originally manufactured with 2 main fuel tanks and 2 auxiliary fuel tanks. A modification installed 2 additional wingtip tanks that fed into the main tanks via transfer pumps. When in cruise flight, the pilot selected the main fuel tanks and turned on the wingtip tank transfer pumps. However, one light indicating that the pump was operating did not illuminate. The pilot reselected the auxiliary tanks and decided to return to his home airport. The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern and he selected the main fuel tanks but noted that “not much fuel [was] showing in the left main tank.” Due to traffic already in the pattern, the pilot had to perform additional maneuvering to remain clear and then reestablish a final approach. On short final, the pilot determined that the landing was assured and selected full flaps. Shortly after, the left engine stopped producing power. The pilot knew the airplane would not make the runway with the landing gear and flaps down. He performed an off-field landing resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, elevators, and wings. The pilot informed a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the reason for the loss of engine power was due to fuel mismanagement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85RR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85RR-2023-06-03), registration cancelled 2023-06-03, S/N TC-1365, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55 (T42A) - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1365 - Year built: 1970 - Engines: Continental IO-550E 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-550E 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tw Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: LHQ, Fairfield County, runway 28, 5,004 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KLHQ - METAR: KLHQ 241653Z AUTO 26010KT 10SM CLR 21/07 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02110067 ## 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 20210924016369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210924016369A), Sep 24, 2021: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Lancaster, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot was on approach to Fairfield County lhq and had a left engine failure and had a forced landing in a soybean field hitting a fence and embankment before… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103975. 8.3 MB in all. - Investigative findings (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13056418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20N85RR-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 855 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13055675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13055665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pictures%203-Rel.pdf - Airplane manual pages (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13056326&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Beech%20Manual%20Excerpts-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. --- 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.