# NTSB CHI88LA225: Beech B-95, N9673R, Alma, MI, August 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1988, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Alma, MI
- Coordinates: 43.369548, -84.649879 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3695&lon=-84.6499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88LA225
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14155/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88LA225

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr)
  - 1 engine
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DURING APPROACH TO LANDING THE PILOT ENTERED A STEEP (45 DEGREE BANK) LEFT TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT REALIZE IT AT THE TIME, BUT THIS ACTION UNPORTED THE FUEL LINE TO THE LEFT ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. WHEN THE PILOT DECIDED THAT HE WAS TOO LOW ON FINAL APPROACH, HE ELECTED TO GO-AROUND AND ADDED POWER. AT THIS TIME HE BECAME AWARE OF THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE, AND RETARDED THE THROTTLES FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT AND DRAGGED THE LEFT WING TIP AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ACROSS THE GROUND BEFORE COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL WARNED AGAINST STEEP BANK TURNS/SLIPS/LANDINGS/TAKEOFFS WHEN THE FUEL TANKS CONTAIN 17 GALLONS OR LESS PER TANK. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 17-18 GALLONS EACH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9673R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9673R-1991-04-10), registration cancelled 1991-04-10, S/N TD333 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B-95
- Registry model: [Beech B95](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b95) (registry code 1153404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TD-333
- Airframe hours: 4017
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lehnerd, Alvin P.
- Registered owner: Lehnerd, Alvin P
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI
- Airport: AMN, Alma Gratiot Community, runway 27, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 334 total, 225 in this make and model, 263 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MBS, 30 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 19880827035649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880827035649A), Aug 27, 1988: Beech 95A55, Alma, MI, Substantial damage. Overshot final,banked steeply to realign and lost the left engine. Crash landed. Low fuel had unported in the turn.

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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