# NTSB CHI01LA304: Beech C23, N9310S, St. Helen, MI, September 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2001, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: St. Helen, MI - Coordinates: 44.359451, -84.410324 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3595&lon=-84.4103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration- Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53470 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53470/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA304 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper airspeed which resulted in a premature lift-off and subsequent stall/mush. A factor to the accident was the fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot attempted a short and soft field takeoff on runway 18 (2,600 feet by 110 feet, dry/turf). The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he set full engine power, held the yoke aft, and the airplane lifted off into ground effect. The pilot stated that after the liftoff the airplane settled back to the runway, and at which time he aborted the takeoff. The pilot reported that he reduced the engine power, set the mixture control to idle cutoff, and applied full brake pressure. The pilot stated that he was unable to stop prior to impacting the airport perimeter fence. The aircraft was approximately 75 pounds below the certified maximum gross weight at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no airframe or engine malfuctions or anomalies. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2001, at 1310 eastern daylight time, a Beech C23, N9310S, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a fence while executing an aborted takeoff on runway 18 (2,600 feet by 110 feet, dry/turf) at the St. Helen Airport, St. Helen, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 on an instrument flight plan. The pilot and his passenger reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and had the intended destination of Brighton Airport, Brighton, Michigan. According to the pilot's written statement, he was attempting a short and soft field takeoff at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he set full engine power, held the yoke aft, and the airplane lifted off into ground effect. The pilot stated that after the liftoff the airplane settled back to the runway, and at which time he aborted the takeoff. The pilot reported that he reduced the engine power, set the mixture control to idle cutoff, and applied full brake pressure. The pilot stated that he was unable to stop prior to impacting the airport perimeter fence. The pilot reported no airframe or engine malfunctions or anomalies. According to an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft was approximately 75 pounds below the certified maximum gross weight at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9310S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9310S-2015-05-21), registration cancelled 2015-05-21, S/N M-1633, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1633 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Frederick Strauss - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2001, 44.1 hours before - Departed: 6Y6, St. Helen, MI - Destination: 45G, Brighton, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 6Y6, St. Helen Airport, runway 18, 2,600 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 21, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 395 total, 256 in this make and model, 257 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: HTL, 12 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 20010903024599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010903024599A), Sep 3, 2001: Beech C23, Sthelens, MI, No damage. (-23) Aircraft departed on runway 18 st. helens airport (6Y6). On lift off the wind shifted & lifted the a/c tail nosing it down. Pilot tried to abor t takeoff… ## Other investigations on N9310S (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC95LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA183), Aug 7, 1995: Beech C23 (N9310S), Dublin, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO IMPROPER MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE BY THE REUSE OF WORN PISTON PINS. THE ROUGH/ UNEVEN TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR. 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.