# NTSB LAX05CA129: Beech D50C, N50G, Montague, CA, April 2, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 2, 2005, 10:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Montague, CA - Coordinates: 41.730278, -122.545555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7303&lon=-122.5456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61247/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight and failure to verify that an adequate fuel supply was in the right main tank prior to flight, resulting in a fuel starvation induced loss of engine power in the right engine. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control following the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel supply - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis Following a loss of engine power from the right engine during takeoff, the airplane veered to the right of the runway and collided with a hangar. The pilot reported that he had found a leak in a fuel line fitting on the right engine during the flight prior to the accident. He fixed the leak by tightening the fitting; however, he had not determined how much fuel remained in the right main fuel tank after the repair or during preflight for the accident flight. The pilot said the start, taxi, and run-up were normal on both engines. Just after liftoff, the airplane yawed to the right. Despite full left rudder and aileron input, the pilot could not prevent the airplane from veering off the runway and colliding with a hangar. An examination of the airplane after the accident determined that the fuel system for the right wing was still intact, and that there were no leaks. The right auxiliary fuel tank was still full of fuel. No fuel was found in the right main fuel tank or in any of the fuel lines leading to the right engine. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2005, about 1040 Pacific standard time, a Beech D50C, N50G, struck a hangar and impacted terrain after experiencing a loss of power during takeoff at Montague Airport-Yreka Rohrer Field, Montague, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed at 1040. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 41 degrees 43.49 minutes north latitude and 122 degrees 32.44 minutes west longitude. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The pilot/owner submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The pilot reported that he had flown the accident airplane from Aurora, California, on March 25, 2005, after an extensive avionics upgrade, which included the installation of a fuel management system. During the flight to Montague, he could smell fuel and noticed that there were streaks on the engine cowling. After landing at Montague he taxied to his hangar, and noticed a puddle of fuel on the ground. He removed the right engine cowling and found a fuel line that was loose and had been leaking. He tightened the fitting, and found no other leaks. He then secured the airplane back in the hangar. On the day of the accident, the pilot conducted a normal preflight. The preflight included looking in the main fuel tanks; the pilot expected the fuel level in each main tank to be about 20 gallons (less than 1/2 tank) based on his amount of flying time. He said that a pilot was not able to visually verify how much fuel was actually present in each tank of this model airplane when the tanks were less than 1/2 full. The pilot stated that he had not considered that the leak during the last flight was enough to have depleted the 20 gallons he thought to be in the right main fuel tank. The engine start, taxing for takeoff, and engine run-ups were normal. The pilot said that the takeoff was normal. After rotation, the airplane veered to the right. He thought that the new autopilot might have engaged. He had the left rudder pedal fully down. He was 40 feet in the air and still going to the right, off the runway, toward his hangar. He applied full left rudder and left aileron. He thought that the airplane was about to stall, so he lowered the nose. The right wing tip impacted a hangar door, and the airplane spun around on its vertical axes. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator in-charge (IIC) had the airplane's fuel system inspected. The fuel system was intact, and had not been breeched during the accident sequence. No fuel was found in the right main tank or in fuel lines for the right engine. The right auxiliary fuel tank was full to its capacity of 46 gallons. The IIC released the wreckage to the owner's representative on April 6, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50G-2011-03-07), registration cancelled 2011-03-07, S/N DH-256, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D50C - Registry model: [Beech D50C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d50c) (registry code 1152520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DH-256 - Engines: Lycoming GO-480-G2D6 reciprocating; Lycoming GO-480-G2D6 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1O5, MONTAGUE, CA - Airport: 1O5, Montague-Yreka Rohrer Field, runway 32, 3,360 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 2,623 total, 1,303 in this make and model, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: SIY 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.