Beechcraft H50 N171S

Summary

On 17 October 2004 at about 18:00 local time, a Beechcraft H50 registered N171S was involved in an accident near Hartwood, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 October 2004 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hartwood, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Hartwood (8W8)

Coordinates

38.4872, -77.6153

Aircraft

Beechcraft H50

Registration

N171S

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hartwood → Hartwood

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05FA006

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with full flaps, and subsequent loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane had not been flown for about 5 years prior to the accident, and was undergoing maintenance in preparation of a ferry flight. A mechanic reported that he had asked the pilot to conduct some engine run-ups as close to full power as possible. The pilot taxied to runway 35, a 2,470 foot-long, 35 foot-wide, gravel and turf runway; where he performed two high speed engine run-ups. The mechanic thought that the pilot was going to perform another run-up, when the airplane accelerated, and lifted off the runway. He noted that it appeared that the pilot departed with full flaps, or at least "more than 10 degrees." The airplane began to climb momentarily, before it rolled left about 90 degrees and descended. The airplane's outboard left wing contacted the ground first, before the remainder of the airplane impacted in a nose down position, about 400 feet to the west of the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Flap actuator measurements of the inboard and outboard, right and left flap actuator rods corresponded with a flap extension of 30 degrees. The airplane flight manual (AFM) procedure for "minimum run" and "obstacle takeoffs" was to utilize a 20-degree flap setting. With regards to conducting a go-around, with the flaps fully extended, the AFM stated to retract the flaps immediately to the 20-degree position. The AFM further indicated that most of the lift gained by lowering the flaps was found in the first 20 degrees of travel. The last 10 degrees provided some lift, but caused much drag..." The weather reported at an airport located about 10 miles southeast of the accident site, included clear skies, and winds from 230 degrees at 9 knots, with gusts to 19 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.