# NTSB NYC04LA040: Beech H-18, N22XL, Westminster, MD, November 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 2003, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Westminster, MD - Coordinates: 39.608333, -77.007774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6083&lon=-77.0078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-07 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58391/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after a failure of one propeller system. Factors in the accident were the failure to perform maintenance inspection and the failure of a bolt in the left propeller blade system. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - 1 engine - maintenance,annual inspection - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - propeller system/accessories,pitch change mech - failure,total (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - ravine ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, about the time of rotation, the airplane yawed right and would not maintain altitude. The airplane cleared one ravine, and the pilot retarded the throttles to abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down in a grass area and came to rest at the bottom of a larger ravine. Examination of the wreckage revealed that a stud, which attached to the pitch change link in one of the left propeller blades, had separated. The last annual inspection of the airplane was performed about 4 years and 5 months prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 2003, about 0900 eastern standard time, a Beech H-18, N22XL, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from Carroll County Regional Airport (DMW), Westminster, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to The Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he performed a run-up, and everything seemed normal. The pilot initiated a takeoff on runway 34; a 5,100-foot long, 100-foot wide, asphalt runway. During the takeoff roll, about the time of rotation, the airplane yawed right and would not maintain altitude. The airplane cleared one ravine, and the pilot retarded the throttles to abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down in a grass area and came to rest at the bottom of a larger ravine on the east side of the runway. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed tire marks in the grass area between the runway and taxiway, about 1,000 feet prior to the end of the runway. The tire marks extended across the taxiway and down a large ravine. The distance between the origin of the marks and the airplane was approximately 1,000 feet. The inspector examined the airplane and observed that the right main landing gear and nose gear were collapsed. The right wing and forward fuselage sustained substantial damage, and the left propeller was found in the feathered position. The FAA inspector further stated that due to the disposition of the wreckage, he was unable to examine the engines. The wreckage was subsequently examined by a certificated mechanic. The mechanic noted that a stud, which attached to the pitch change link in one of the left propeller blades, had separated. The pilot reported that the last annual inspection performed on the airplane was on June 24, 1999. During the approximate 4 years and 5 months since the last inspection, the airplane had accumulated about 65 hours of operation. In addition, the pilot had not flown within the 90-day period preceding the accident, nor did he possess a current medical certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22XL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22XL-2006-03-06), registration cancelled 2006-03-06, S/N BA-652, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech H-18 - Registry model: [Beech H-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h-18) (registry code 1151012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-652 - Airframe hours: 10074 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating; Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Matthew P. Kibler - Registered owner: Betway Motel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1999, 65 hours before - Departed: DMW, Westminster, MD - Destination: MTH, Marathon, FL - Airport: DMW, Carrol County Regional Airport, runway 34, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review May 11, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 50 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: FDK, 21 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 20031123032999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031123032999A), Nov 23, 2003: Beech H18, Westminister, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft took off on runway 34 at westminster airport (W54). Active runway was runway 16. Aircraft was unable to maintain flight. Touched down about 1000… 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.