# NTSB MIA93FA031: Beech 65, N555GC, Orlando, FL, December 19, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1992, 07:39 local (12:39 UTC)
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Location: 28.5383° N, 81.3792° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Orlando, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5383&lon=-81.3792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33170
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93FA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33170/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93FA031

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF POWER OF THE LEFT ENGINE. THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED FUEL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S).

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - fuel system,strainer - incorrect (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel control - corroded (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel control - contamination (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, cruise - normal
  - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PLT REPORTED LEVEL AT 6,000 FT; NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT AFTER 5 MIN AT CRUISE FLT GROUNDSPEED BEGAN TO SLOW, AND AS SPEED REACHED 85 KTS (VMC IS 83 KTS) ACFT MADE A RAPID TURN TO THE LEFT AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 74 KTS. RADAR CONTACT WAS THEN LOST. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING AND SEEING ACFT WITH AN ENG SPUTTERING AND QUITTING, AT WHICH TIME NO ENG NOISE WAS AUDIBLE. ENG WOULD THEN RESTART, AND AT ONE POINT ACFT WAS OBSERVED INITIATING A CLIMB AFTER ENG START. ENG RESTARTED AND OBTAINED NEAR FULL POWER, AND A SHORT TIME LATER SOUND OF IMPACT WAS HEARD. THE LEFT ENG FUEL SERVO WAS FOUND CONTAMINATED WITH CORROSION AND DIRT, AND WOULD NOT ALLOW FUEL FLOW TO THE ENG. THE FUEL STRAINER FOR THIS ENG WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS ALLOWING UNFILTERED FUEL TO ENTER THE ENG. THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS NOT FEATHERED AND HAD NO SIGNS OF ROTATION UNDER POWER. RIGHT ENG FUEL SERVO ALSO CONTAINED CORROSION & CONTAMINATION. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N555GC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555GC-1996-04-29), registration cancelled 1996-04-29, S/N LC164 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65
- Registry model: [Beech 65](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65) (registry code 1152802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LC-164
- Airframe hours: 3700
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-480-A1E6 340 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edwards, William J.
- Registered owner: Glenn M. Cone
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 1993
- Departed: SFB, SANFORD, FL
- Destination: FXE, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,269 total, 40 in this make and model, 8,046 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCO, 19 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 19921219050899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921219050899A), Dec 19, 1992: Beech 65, Orlando, FL, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Lost left engine. Failed engine out procedure. Inboard tanks unusable. Pilot mismanaged system. Out of annual.

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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