# NTSB ERA22LA092: Beech D55, N44DC, Hamilton, AL, December 21, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 21, 2021, 20:20 UTC
- Place: Hamilton, AL
- Coordinates: 34.093752, -88.00355 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0938&lon=-88.0036&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104435
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104435/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104435
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA092

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power on the left engine 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 D55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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 D55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152730), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech D55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Beech D55, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot described that at the conclusion of the positioning flight she amended her initial plan to enter the traffic pattern at the destination airport due to potential conflicts with other traffic, and instead completed an entry into a left downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The sequence of events left her “task saturated” and she failed to complete the before-landing checklist and properly configure the twin-engine airplane’s fuel system for landing by switching from the auxiliary to the main fuel tanks. While on final approach to the runway the airplane’s left engine lost power and the airplane began a “lazy Vmc roll to the left.” The pilot attempted to continue ahead toward the runway, but realized that the airplane would not be able to clear power lines, so she maneuvered for a forced landing, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane at the accident site conformed that the left fuel selector was in the “Aux[iliary]” position. Published in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and placarded between the fuel selectors was: “USE AUX TANKS AND CROSSFEED IN LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY.” Given this information, it is likely that the pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane’s fuel system while maneuvering for landing resulted in a loss of engine power to the airplane’s left engine due to fuel starvation and the subsequent forced landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44DC-2025-01-11), registration cancelled 2025-01-11, S/N TE-735, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-735
- Year built: 1969
- Engines: Continental IO-520-CB41B 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-520-CB8B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Gta Air Inc
- Registered owner: Gta Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 30, 2021, 11,073.6 hours before
- Departed: MEM, Memphis, TN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HAB, Marion County-Rankin Fite, runway 36, 5,495 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,600 total, 570 in this make and model, 1,870 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: K1M4, 23 nm away
- METAR: K1M4 212056Z AUTO 35005KT 10SM OVC085 09/03 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP652 T00940033 56019

## 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 20211221020089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211221020089A), Dec 21, 2021: Beech D55, Hamilton, AL, Destroyed. Pilot stated that as she turned final for runway 36 at hab, the left engine slowly began to loose power and the aircraft began to roll to the left. The…

## Other investigations on N44DC (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 OAK79DVA22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVA22), Mar 9, 1979: Beech D55 (N44DC), Visalia, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104435. 37.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13798866&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident site photos (courtesy of FAA) (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 34.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13797982&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20of%20Scene%20(FAA)-Rel.pdf
- Ov track data (item 3, CSV, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13798876&FileExtension=csv&FileName=ERA22LA092%20-%20OV%20Track%20Data-Rel.csv
- Track data plot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 701 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14303914&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Track%20Plot-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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