NYC02FA178

The six-passenger airplane arrived at the departure airport with a malfunctioning landing gear system. Due to lack of maintenance personnel, the pilot elected to conduct the accident flight with the landing gear extended. The airplane departed with seven occupants, near the certified gross weight. Witnesses observed the airplane flying about 200-300 feet above the ground, with its engines "sputtering and backfiring." The airplane made a left turn towards the airport, descended, and came to rest in a wooded area about 2 miles southeast of the airport. Examination of the right engine revealed the propeller was not feathered, and the number 5 cylinder head was fractured about 3/4 inch from the bottom of the upper portion of the head. A fatigue fracture initiated in the root radius of the cylinder head thread that engaged with the top thread on the cylinder barrel. Indentations and displaced material on the upper and lower flanks of the cylinder head threads matched with the locations of protruding material observed on the cylinder barrel threads. The protruding material was located on the flank/crown radius of the threads, and was consistent with the folding over of a burr into the thread, originating during the manufacturing process. The number 5 cylinder assembly consisted of a new cylinder head that had been installed on a remanufactured barrel. The right engine was remanufactured in 2001, and had accumulated about 140 total hours of operation since. According to 14 CFR Part 91.7, "No person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in an airworthy condition. The pilot in command of a civil aircraft is responsible for determining whether that aircraft is in condition for safe flight. The pilot in command shall discontinue the flight when unairworthy mechanical, electrical, or structural conditions occur." According to 14 CFR Part 91.107, "...each person on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt...during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing." According to the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3), Transition to a Multiengine Airplanes, "When one engine fails on a multiengine airplane, performance is not halved, but is reduced by approximately 80 percent."

**This report was modified on 2/24/2016. Refer to the public docket for this accident for additional information.**

History of flight

On September 2, 2002, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft 58P, N6688D, was destroyed during a forced landing after experiencing a partial loss of engine power near Swanzey, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot and six passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that departed from the Dillant Hopkins Airport (EEN), Keen, New Hampshire, destined for the Yeager Airport (CRW), Charleston, West Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the manager of a fixed based operation (FBO) at EEN, the accident airplane arrived on August 30 and was parked for the weekend. On the day of the accident, he observed the airplane being taxied to a self-service fuel pump, where it was fueled with approximately 110 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation gasoline. During the fueling process, the manager also observed a passenger sitting on the fuel pump, "calling off" the gallons to the pilot filling the airplane. After fueling, about 5-6 duffle bags were loaded into the nose section of the airplane, and the occupants entered the passenger cabin. The airplane was taxied to runway 20, where the pilot performed a normal run-up, and the flight departed. The manager additionally stated that the departure appeared normal until the airplane flew away from his sight.

Witnesses, who were located south of the airport, observed the airplane about 200-300 feet above the ground, with it's engines "sputtering and backfiring" as it passed overhead. The airplane then began to make a left hand turn, reversing its direction towards the airport, before descending out of the witnesses sight.

The airplane came to rest in a wooded area about 2 miles southeast of EEN.

On the day of the accident, the pilot contacted the Burlington, Vermont; Flight Service Station (FSS), to obtain a weather briefing, and file an IFR flight plan. During his conversation with the FSS specialist, the pilot commented that he would be flying the airplane back to Louisiana with the landing gear in the extended position, and that he "can't get it up." The pilot also added that there would be 7 occupants onboard. The FSS specialist queried the pilot that he "thought a baron only carried uh six people," which the pilot replied, "well we've got some kids with us today."

According to a representative of the pilot's family, the pilot stated that he had experienced a problem with the landing gear after takeoff from CRW. After landing at EEN, no maintenance was performed on the airplane due to the lack of maintenance personnel.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight, at 42 degrees, 52.00 minutes north longitude, 72 degrees, 14.32 minutes west latitude, at an elevation of 606 feet msl.

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single and multi-engine land, and instrument airplane.

The pilot's most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was dated on July 5, 2001.

Review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accumulated about 1,284 hours of total flight experience, 469 hours of which were in multiengine airplanes.

Aircraft information

According to the Beechcraft Baron 58P Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, the maximum passenger seating configuration was "Five (5) passengers and one (1) pilot."

A review of the airframe and engine records did not reveal any abnormalities with the engines or the airframe.

The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on February 4, 2002, at a total aircraft time of 2,699.3 hours. The compression check result for the number 5 cylinder from the right engine, obtained during the inspection, was "78/80."

The right engine's lubricating oil and filter was changed on August 6, 2002. The old oil filter was cut open after removal, and inspected as "OK." The engine was serviced with oil, washed, and a run up check was determined "OK."

The right engine was manufactured on October 4, 1984, and had accumulated 1,836.6 hours of total operation. The engine was then remanufactured on March 13, 2001, and had accumulated about 140 total hours of operation since. During the remanufacture, new Engineering Components, Inc. (ECI) Nickel cylinder assemblies were installed on the engine. The cylinder hold-down nuts were replaced and torqued per "Overhaul Manual Supplement."

The left engine underwent the same remanufacturing process, and had accumulated the same operational times as the right engine.

Meteorological information

The weather reported at the EEN airport, at 1055, included winds from 020 at 3 knots; 10 statute miles of visibility; broken clouds at 1,900 feet; temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point of 57 degrees Fahrenheit; and an altimeter setting of 30.21 inches of mercury.

Wreckage description

Examination of the accident site revealed terrain, which consisted of evergreen and hardwood trees reaching a height of about 80 feet. The hardwood trees, which predominantly surrounded the accident site, had branches of varying diameters that were cut at 45-degree angles and displayed black paint transfer. The cut branches were located on the ground and suspended in other trees, along the wreckage path. The wreckage path was oriented on a 360-degree heading, with the main fuselage coming to rest on a 005-degree heading. Surrounding the accident site, were large patches of wilted foliage and charred fallen leaves. A post-crash fire consumed the main fuselage.

The first tree strike area was located about 300 feet prior to the main fuselage. A 32-inch section of the outer left wing was located about 125 feet from the first tree strike. About 15 feet from the outer left wing, a 30-inch section of the inboard right wing was located, suspended in a tree. A large section of a 9-inch diameter hardwood tree was found lying on the ground about 6 feet past the inboard right wing section. About 15 feet in front of the fallen tree was a 54-inch section of the left horizontal stabilizer. Also in this area was the left elevator, right wing aileron, a 60-inch section of the right wing containing the main fuel tank, and a 32-inch section of the outer right wing. About 50 feet further was the nose landing gear assembly. About 50 feet beyond the nose gear was the left engine propeller assembly. About 20 feet beyond the left engine propeller assembly was the main wreckage. The inboard section of the left wing, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and a 40-inch section of the right horizontal stabilizer remained attached to the fuselage. All flight control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site.

When the main wreckage was examined, the left horizontal stabilizer had a 12-inch deep "u"-shaped dent on the leading edge, about 19 inches from the outboard edge. Tree bark was observed in the dent compression marks.

The left and right engines were found separated from their respective wing attachments, and sustained extensive fire damage.

The left engine's turbocharger did not rotate when examined. The top spark plugs on all six cylinders were removed; their electrodes were intact and light gray in color. The left and right magnetos were separated from the engine, and sustained impact and heat damage. The engine was rotated 1/2 turn, and rotation was observed through the accessory drive section. No fuel was observed in the fuel manifold or fuel lines.

The right engine's number 5 cylinder head was fractured about 3/4 inch from the bottom of the upper portion of the head. About 1/2 inch of the barrel was observed inside the fracture. The throttle plate was observed in th