# NTSB MIA85FA166: Beech E18S, N57AE, West Palm Bch, FL, May 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 6, 1985, 18:14 local (22:14 UTC)
- Place: West Palm Bch, FL
- Coordinates: 26.660566, -80.089462 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6606&lon=-80.0895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31244
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31244/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA166

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - procedures/directives - not followed, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - inadequate training, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - inadeq method of compliance determination rcrdkpng, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,recordkeeping - improper, company maintenance personnel
  - passenger briefing - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - improper use of, passenger
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing
  - engine assembly,mount - overload
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

DRG TAKEOFF FROM RWY 13, THE L ENG LOST PWR AFTER THE ACFT HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200' AGL & ACCELLERATED TO APRX 125 KTS WITH THE GEAR & FLAPS RETRACTED. THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF & TURNED THE ACFT TO LAND ON RWY 9. HOWEVER, IT TOUCHED DWNIN THE GRASS AFTER PASSING THE INTX OF RWYS 9 & 13, HEADING APRX 110 DEG. AFTER LANDING, THE ACFT CONTINUED ACROSS A TAXIWAY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED, THE ACFT NOSED DWN & BOTH PROPS STRUCK THE GND. THE R ENG MOUNTS FAILED, & RPRTDLY, THE ACFT LUNGED AS THE R ENG FOLDED UNDER THE WING. A PAX, WHOSE SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE, WAS THROWN FROMHER SEAT & WAS INJURED. WATER & PRODUCES OF CORROSION WERE FND IN THE L AUX FUEL TANK & IN THE LINES & STRAINER FOR THE L ENG. AN EXAM OF THE COMPANY CREW TRAINING RECORDS & ACFT MAINT RECORDS REVEALED NUMEROUS OMISSIONS, IMPROPER ENTRIES &FAILURE TO DOCUMENT PURPORTED MAINT. THESE ERRORS HAD OCCURRED PRIOR TO & CONTINUED AFTER THE FAA HAD APPROVED ISSUANCE OF AN AIR CARRIER OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE FOR THE COMPANY. THE PAX'S RPRTD THERE WAS NO PREFLT PAX BRIEFING BFR TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57AE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57AE-2014-10-28), registration cancelled 2014-10-28, S/N BA-57, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E18S
- Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA-57
- Airframe hours: 22977
- Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Airsouth, Inc.
- Registered owner: International Aircraft Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 1, 1985, 143 hours before
- Departed: PBI
- Destination: FLL, FT.LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PBI, Palm Beach Intl, runway 13, 6,930 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,647 total, 2,130 in this make and model, 15,297 as pilot in command, 227 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI

## 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 19850506022799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850506022799A), May 6, 1985: Beech STC18BEECH, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit after liftoff due to water in fuel. Aborted takeoff, nose gear collapsed. Pilot training inadequate.

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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