MIA95FA117

After landing the pilots performed 4 rapid right turns to taxi back for takeoff. During the takeoff roll the airplane kept veering to the left. The pilots were concerned with the remaining runway and rotated at about 85 KTS. After lift off the left engine lost power. The airplane rolled inverted and crashed. Examination of the left main fuel cell revealed that the anti-slosh baffle inspection zipper was open, which would allow unporting of the left main fuel supply pickup line. The zipper is required to be opened, an inspection made, and then closed during each annual inspection. The zipper appeared to be corroded.

History of flight

On April 23, 1995, about 1730 eastern daylight time, N6855Z, a Beech 95-B55, registered to Turning Point Development Inc., crashed on takeoff from Plant City Municipal Airport, Plant City, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and pilot-rated passenger received serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The previous flight had departed Tampa, Florida, Vandenburg Airport and the pilots reported the upper door latch popped open, and they landed in Plant City, Florida. After landing on runway 27 and executing four right turns to taxi back to runway 27, they took off. The right seat pilot stated that during the takeoff roll the airplane kept veering to the left, and he said that during the take-off roll they were both concerned that adequate runway might not be available. He said they lifted off at about 85 knots. The pilot and pilot rated ground witnesses stated that after liftoff the left engine lost power and the airplane stalled, rolled inverted and crashed in an industrial area to the left of the runway.

The purpose of the flight was for the non-multiengine rated pilot in the left seat to obtain instruction from the flight instructor in the right seat. The flight instructor was not rated as a multiengine instructor.

Personnel information

The flight instructor was airline transport rated and held an instructor's certificate for airplane single engine land and instrument airplane. The passenger was a private pilot with ratings for airplane single engine land and instrument airplane. Additional pilot information is included in attachments.

Aircraft information

The airplane had been sold as a foreign sale new and had returned to the United States recently. The airplane had an import annual, conformity check, and issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate on April 1, 1995. Additional aircraft information is included in and attached to this report.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage was located in a parking lot about 300 feet south of the departure end of runway 27 at Plant City Airport. It was found resting on the main landing gear with the nose gear broken off. The nose section and forward cockpit were grossly deformed. Both engines were partially broken at their respective engine mounts. Control continuity for all aerodynamic flight controls was confirmed. Both propellers were broken off. The right engine propeller blades exhibited leading edge damage, chordwise scratching, and extensive "S" shape curling. The right engine was not further examined. The left engine propeller blades were not extensively deformed and exhibited minor leading edge damage. The left engine was removed and shipped to an engine test cell. Minor repairs to impact damaged engine components was accomplished and the engine was mounted in a test cell. The engine started and ran normally.

Both fuel selectors were found in the main tank position at the selector handle. The left main fuel cell covers were removed and the fuel tank anti-slosh baffle was inspected. The flapper door at the bottom of the fuel baffle was found to be operable. The inspection zipper in the baffle was found open.

Additional information

The inspection zipper was a modification installation by Beechcraft to allow inspection of the baffled area of the fuel tank that trapped fuel during turbulence, tight turns, skids, and slips. The zipper is required to be in the closed position during flight. If the zipper were open during flight fuel could slosh out of the anti-slosh baffle.

A review of the Beechcraft service bulletins and the manufacturer's-100-hour and annual inspection checklist revealed that the zipper in each fuel cell should be opened, an inpection accomplished and the zipper closed, each annual inspection. The zipper appeared to be corroded on postaccident inspection.

The wreckage was released to Mr. Tyler Dedman, of Sample International Insurance Adjusters on April 25, 1995, and the left engine was released to Quality Aircraft Salvage on August 22, 1995.