ERA12LA549

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 76 · Manville, NJ · September 6, 2012

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 6, 2012, 11:35 local (15:35 UTC)
Place
Manville, NJ
Injuries
2 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6716LBeech 76
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 12, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20120906019659A
Case key
84952

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing and attempted go-around.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedBeech 76: 4 casesAll aircraft: 390 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotBeech 76: 11 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that, after a normal approach, the airplane drifted to the left after touchdown and he commenced a go-around. As he began the go-around, the pilot-rated passenger called out for “full power.” The airplane turned and rolled sharply to the right. The pilot corrected with flight control inputs, and the airplane banked to the left; the left wing tip struck a dirt mound located off the left side of the runway. The airplane then collided with a perimeter fence and came to rest inverted. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the airplane departed the left side of the runway during the landing and subsequently “porpoised.” Although preliminary on-site examination of the wreckage indicated that the right engine “did not appear to be operating” and that the right engine mixture control was in the idle cutoff position, a witness, who was a flight instructor, stated that he observed no indications of an engine failure while the airplane was airborne. Subsequent examination of both engines revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure, and both propeller assemblies showed evidence of rotation at impact.

Factual narrative

On September 6, 2012, about 1135 eastern daylight time, a Beech 76, N6716L, was substantially damaged following a loss of directional control while landing at Central Jersey Regional Airport (47N), Manville, New Jersey. The private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to N6716 LLC and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Princeton, New Jersey (39N) at 1030. The pilot reported the following. He was acting as pilot-in-command during the approach to runway 25. He occupied the left cockpit seat. Following a normal approach, the airplane touched down and began to drift left. He commenced a go-around about the same time that the passenger called out “full power.” The pilot applied full power, the airplane accelerated, and began to lift off. The airplane then began to turn and roll to the right. As he applied flight control inputs to correct the situation, the airplane rolled to the left and ultimately struck the ground. The passenger reported that, during the approach to runway 25, he had the right cockpit seat positioned aft and he was looking at his iPad. There was no wind or other weather issues at the time. The pilot flew a normal approach; however, he “did not touch down early enough.” The airplane “porpoised” back into the air after departing the left side of the runway. He advised the pilot to go around and the pilot added full power. The airplane gained altitude and pitched hard to the right. The passenger reported that, at no time during the flight, were simulated single engine procedures practiced. A witness on the ramp, who was a flight instructor, reported that the airplane was stabilized on final approach to runway 25 and the propellers were turning. The airplane touched down in the first third of the runway, bounced slightly, and then the pilot added power. When power was added, the airplane banked heavily to the right and reached an altitude of about 20 to 30 feet above the runway. He heard the power come back to idle and then the airplane banked to the left. The left wing then struck a dirt mound off the left side of the taxiway, the airplane struck a fence, and flipped over on its back. While the airplane was airborne, he did not observe any visual indications of an engine failure and the propellers were not feathered. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. He confirmed substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. He reported that the right engine “did not appear to be operating.” The right mixture control was found in the idle cutoff position. Fuel was found in both wing tanks. The fuel selector valves tested normally in the “on” position. The wreckage was recovered to a storage facility where a subsequent examination of the airframeand engines was performed on March 20, 2013 by a NTSB Air Safety Investigator and a FAA Airworthiness Inspector. Examination of the right engine propeller blades revealed leading edge gouges and the blade tip of one blade was broken off. Further examination of the right engine revealed that compression was noted on all six cylinders and valve train continuity was confirmed when the engine was rotated manually. The right magneto produced spark to all leads except the number one cylinder bottom plug. The top spark plugs were removed and the electrodes exhibited normal wear and color when compared to a Champion Spark Plug inspection chart. The carburetor inlet screen was removed and examined; no contaminants were noted. The carburetor bowl contained fuel and no contaminants were noted. The right engine oil sump screen was removed and examined; no particulates were found. Examination of the left engine propeller blades revealed leading edge gouges, chord-wise surface scratches, and twisting of the blades. Further examination of the left engine revealed that compression was noted on all six cylinders and valve train continuity was confirmed when the engine was rotated manually. The left engine magneto produced spark to all leads when manually rotated. The top spark plugs were removed and the electrodes exhibited normal wear and color when compared to a Champion Spark Plug inspection chart. The carburetor inlet screen was removed and examined; no contaminants were noted. The carburetor bowl contained fuel and no contaminants were noted. The left engine oil sump screen was removed and examined; no particulates were found.

Aircraft

Registration
N6716L
Reported as
Beech 76
Category
Airplane
Serial number
ME-326
Airframe hours
6,675
Engines
Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocatingLycoming O&VO-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 15, 2012
Departed
39N · Princeton, NJ
Destination
47N · Manville, NJ
Airport
47N · Central Jersey Regional, runway 25, 3,510 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
44
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
264 total · 72 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
29.89 inHg
Observed at
SMQ, 6 nm away

Docket · 18

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 21.9 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.