# NTSB NYC83FA141: Beech K35, N9554R, Ridgefield, CT, June 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 11, 1983, 14:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place: Ridgefield, CT
- Location: 41.2697° N, 73.4926° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ridgefield, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2697&lon=-73.4926&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35052
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35052/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA141

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,cap - deteriorated (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,cap - leak (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - reduced (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, SEVERAL WITNESSES HEARD UNUSUAL SOUNDS FROM THE ACFT. ONE STATED THAT HE HEARD A SPUTTERING NOISE & THE ENG STOPPED, THEN IT RESTARTED, BUT WAS NOT SMOOTH. THE OTHER 2 WITNESSES HEARD A BACKFIRING OR SPUTTERING NOISE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED. BEFORE THE PLANE CRASHED, THE PLT HAD TRANSMITTED A MAYDAY CALL & SAID THE ACFT WAS GOING DOWN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. EXCEPT THE LEFT FUEL CAP O-RING WAS BADLY CRACKED FROM AGE & THE TOP OF THE LEFT WING HAD SIGNS OF FUEL STREAMING (SYPHONING). PRIOR TO THIS FLT, THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN FROM YOUNGSTOWN, OH TO WILKES-BARRE, PA, THEN ON TO DANBURY, CT. THE PLT HAD REPORTED THAT ON THAT TRIP, HE HAD SEEN FUEL STREAMING FROM THE LEFT WING, ALL THE WAY BACK, AND THAT HE WOULD SEE A MECHANIC ABOUT FIXING THE CAPS. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED AT WILKES-BARRE OR DANBURY, PRIOR TO THIS FLT. ALSO, A MECHANIC HAD PREVIOUSLY ADVISED THE OWNER TO REPLACE THE O-RINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9554R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9554R-1991-03-13), registration cancelled 1991-03-13, S/N D6124 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH K35
- Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D6124
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert W. Brooks
- Registered owner: Flair Aviation, Inc.
- Last inspection: Unknown, February 1, 1983
- Departed: DXR, DANBURY, CT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,852 total, 38 in this make and model, 16,813 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: POU, 25 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 19830611024769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830611024769A), Jun 11, 1983: Beech K35, Ridgefield, CT, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft was 238 lbs over gross weight on takeoff. Pilot maydayed on climbout. No mechanical defects found.

## Other investigations on N9554R (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC77FHJ17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FHJ17), Apr 30, 1977: Beech K35 (N9554R), Mattituck, NY, destroyed

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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