Beechcraft 58 N4403Q

Summary

On 23 June 1995 at about 13:16 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N4403Q, operated by Air Orlando Charter, Inc., was involved in an accident near Orlando, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 1995 at 13:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Orlando, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5502, -81.2999

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N4403Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Air Orlando Charter, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Jacksonville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA95FA154

2 people died.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO INSURE THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED FOLLOWING LOSS OF POWER IN ONE ENGINE RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT BEING UNABLE TO CLIMB AND CLEAR TREES IN THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT PATH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON RWY 7, THE PILOT REPORTED TO FAA CONTROLLERS HE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONTROLLERS OBSERVED THE LANDING GEAR RETRACT AT THIS TIME AND THEN IMMEDIATELY EXTEND. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT AT TREE TOP LEVEL MAKING A TURN TO THE NORTH WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND THE LEFT ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND THE PROPELLER FEATHERED. THE ACFT DESCENDED AND STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE WITH THE WINGS LEVEL. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT 90 DEGREES AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN CARTWHEELED AND SLID BACKWARDS INTO A TREE WHERE IT CAME TO REST. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE SHOWED THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DRIVE COUPLING WAS ROUNDED OFF AND NOT TURNING THE PUMP. THE DRIVE COUPLING WAS TOO SHORT FOR THE MODEL FUEL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT. A 1993 FAA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE THAT CALLS FOR CHECKING FOR THE PROPER LENGTH DRIVE COUPLING HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH. THE FLIGHT MANUAL FOR THE ACFT STATES THAT THE FIRST ACTION TO BE PERFORMED BY THE PILOT AFTER ENGINE FAILURE IS TO RAISE THE LANDING GEAR. THE MANUAL ALSO STATES THAT SINGLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE IS PREDICATED ON THE LANDING GEAR BEING RETRACTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.