# NTSB MIA91LA151: Beech 80, N5128Y, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1991, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.189849, -80.16983 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1898&lon=-80.1698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32876
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32876/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA151

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WORK BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON WHO CROSSTHREADED A FUEL NOZZLE INJECTOR FITTING WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO LEAK ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM INITIATING A FIRE.  NO REASON FOR THE RIGHT ENGINE NOT TO DEVELOP FULL POWER WAS FOUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,line - cross/stripped threaded (cause)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - not performed, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - 1 engine
- Loss of engine power, descent - emergency
  - all engines
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - vehicle

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN LEVEL FLIGHT THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED AND HE OBSERVED A FIRE WARNING LIGHT AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN, THE RIGHT ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER. HE THEN RESTARTED THE LEFT ENGINE BUT NEITHER DEVELOPED ENOUGH POWER TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT.  HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY AND STRUCK A VEHICLE AND A FIRE ERUPTED. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED A CROSSTHREADED FUEL NOZZLE FITTING AND SOOT PATTERNS AFT OF IT.  NO CAUSE FOR THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILURE WAS FOUND.  NO EVIDENCE OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5128Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5128Y-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N LD-405, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 80
- Registry model: [Beech 65-B80](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-b80) (registry code 1152812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-igso-540-b1a) (registry code 41535, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: L0-405
- Engines: LYCOMING GSIO-540 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Cris E. Nicholson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HWO, HOLLYWOOD, FL
- Destination: X21, TITUSVILLE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,927 total, 140 in this make and model, 1,707 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: FXE, 4 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 19910525017269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910525017269A), May 25, 1991: Beech 65B80, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Destroyed. Lost both engines. Hit vehicle on freeway on landing. Fuel line leaking left engine. Water in fuel right engine.

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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