# NTSB NYC01LA074: Beech B-19, N9746L, Louisa, VA, February 1, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 2001, 19:30 local (Feb 1, 2001, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Louisa, VA - Coordinates: 38.009723, -77.970001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0097&lon=-77.9700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51420/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA074 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a hard landing. Factor's in this accident were the loss of electrical power due to an alternator failure and the night light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - electrical system,alternator - failure,total (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight, the airplane experienced a complete electrical failure. The pilot stated that during landing, the airplane "got slow" on final approach and dropped approximately 12 to 15 feet onto the runway. The nose gear separated and the airplane slid to a stop. The pilot added that the runway lights were illuminated during the landing. Examination of the airplane's alternator revealed an internal failure which precluded the alternator from producing sufficient voltage to power the airplane. The pilot reported 235 hours of total fight experience, which included 27 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. Additionally, the pilot reported he had flown the accident airplane at night, two days prior to the accident and had not experienced any electrical problems. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 2001, about 1930 Eastern Standard Time, a Beech B-19, N9746L, was substantially damaged while landing at the Louisa County-Freeman Field Airport (LKU), Louisa, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Warrenton, Virginia, destined for the Hanover County Municipal Airport (OFP), Richmond, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported he was en route to OFP when the airplane experienced a complete electrical failure. The pilot turned back toward Warrenton, and elected to land at LKU, on Runway 27. He stated the airplane "got slow," on final approach and dropped approximately 12 to 15 feet onto the runway. The nose gear separated and the airplane slid to a stop. The pilot added that the runway lights were illuminated during the landing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, examination of the airplane's alternator revealed an internal failure which precluded the alternator from producing sufficient voltage to power the airplane. The pilot reported 235 hours of total fight experience, which included 27 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. Additionally, the pilot reported he had flown the accident airplane at night, two days prior to the accident and had not experienced any electrical problems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9746L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9746L-2004-03-15), registration cancelled 2004-03-15, S/N MB-528, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B-19 - Registry model: [Beech B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b19) (registry code 1151215) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MB-528 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: McMichael National Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2000, 7 hours before - Departed: W66, WARRENTON, VA - Destination: OFP, Richmond, VA - Airport: LKU, Louisa, runway 27, 4,301 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 235 total, 27 in this make and model, 162 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: LKU ## 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 20010131039449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010131039449A), Jan 31, 2001: Beech B19, Louisa, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft enroute from W66 to ofp VFR. Pilot notes loss of electrical power and diverts to lku. Airman flares high. Aircraft hits hard, bounces, and comes… 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.