# NTSB NYC90LA182: Beech 58P, N138P, Chicopee, MA, August 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1990, 07:13 local (11:13 UTC)
- Place: Chicopee, MA
- Location: 42.1940° N, 72.5348° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WESTOVER ARB/METRO (CEF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1940&lon=-72.5348&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36705
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36705/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA182

## Probable cause

DOUBLE POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER FUELING PROCEDURES. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER PRE-FLIGHT ACTIONS BY THE PILOT AND WRONG FUEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel grade - improper (cause)
  - refueling - improper, airport personnel (cause)
  - inadequate initial training, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - all engines - loss,total (cause)
  - abort - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

The pilot performed a pre-flight inspection, drained the fuel tank sumps and taxied to the ramp for fuel. The refueler pulled up in a 10,000-gallon truck marked Jet-A and put 50 gallons in each side while the pilot watched. The pilot said that he was not worried because he knew that a jet-fuel truck had been converted to avgas for an airshow that had just taken place, the nozzle fit into the wing and he had restrictors to prevent a jet-fuel nozzle from being placed in the tank, and he thought that the refueler had refueled the airplane before. The pilot stated that he assumed that this was the truck that had been converted to dispense avgas. The pilot taxied for takeoff and did not make a runup because he had already warmed up the engines and completed a runup prior to refueling. He lost power in both engines after getting airborne and landed on the remaining runway. The refueler thought that the Beech Baron was turbine powered. The FAA reported that the fuel nozzle was an improper nozzle installed for overwing refueling and that the 5,000-gallon jet-fuel truck that had been converted to avgas was properly marked and contained avgas.

This narrative was modified on August 18, 2005.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N138P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-481
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-WB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Peter Pan World Travel, Inc.
- Departed: CEF
- Destination: PTD, POTTSDAM, NY
- Airport: CEF, Westover Afb

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,050 in this make and model, 4,950 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CEF

## 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 19900802033759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900802033759A), Aug 2, 1990: Beech 58P, Springfield/Chi, MA, Substantial damage. Rough engine on liftoff,aborted safely but engines damaged by jet fuel pumped by mistake. Pilot failed to check.

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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