Beechcraft BE-56TC N156DK

Summary

On 9 July 2003 at about 17:13 local time, a Beechcraft BE-56TC registered N156DK was involved in an accident near Bethany, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 July 2003 at 17:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Bethany, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Wheeling Ohio County Airport (HLG)

Coordinates

40.1750, -80.6344

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-56TC

Registration

N156DK

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Parkersburg → Watertown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA155

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of power in the right engine for undetermined reasons. A factor was a partial loss of power in the left engine due to a loose oil line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot completely fueled the airplane prior to departure. After takeoff, while climbing through 16,000 feet msl, to reach a cruising altitude of 23,000 feet, the left manifold pressure gauge began to fluctuate. The pilot then noticed oil streaking from the left engine cowling, and shut down the left engine. The pilot notified ATC and began to fly back toward the departure airport; however, about 1 minute 40 seconds after securing the left engine, the right engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he had not touched the right fuel selector prior to the loss of power in the right engine. The pilot attempted to restart the right engine using a checklist and cross-feeding the right engine to the left main fuel tank, but the right engine did not restart. With no success to restart the right engine, the pilot attempted to restart the left engine, but was unable to do so. During the restart attempts, the airplane's engine driven vacuum instruments failed, which included the attitude indicator. The ATC controller was providing the pilot vectors toward an ILS approach to a suitable alternate airport. Due to instrument meteorological conditions between 1,200 feet and 14,500 feet, the controller had to provide no-gyro turns to the pilot in an attempt to maintain a safe attitude. The pilot was unable to glide to the runway, and performed a forced landing to a field about 3 miles south of the alternate airport. Examination of the left engine revealed that the oil line was found separated from the number two cylinder, but the threads remained intact. The number six cylinder exhibited damage consistent with oil starvation. However, no discrepancies were noted with the right engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.