Beechcraft BE-A55 C-FDJP

Summary

On 17 May 2007 at about 13:37 local time, a Beechcraft BE-A55 registered C-FDJP, operated by Maxwell B. Hudson, was involved in an accident near Dunkirk, New York, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 May 2007 at 13:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Dunkirk, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Chautauqua County (KDKK)

Coordinates

42.4814, -79.2839

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-A55

Registration

C-FDJP

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Maxwell B. Hudson

Operating rule

Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshawa → Wilmington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07FA119

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a single-engine missed approach, after the failure of the airplane's left engine aft-top counterweight assembly. Contributing to the accident were instrument meteorological conditions due to clouds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane experienced a left engine failure while en route to its destination and diverted to another airport. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the airplane was observed exiting the clouds in level flight, about one-half to three-quarters beyond the approach end of the intended landing runway. The pilot attempted a missed approach and the airplane made a climbing left turn, and entered clouds. Shortly thereafter, the airplane was observed descending toward the ground in a flat spin. The airplane impacted in a wooded area about 1/2-mile south-southwest of the approach end of the runway. Examination of the left engine revealed the propeller was at or near the feathered position. An approximate 5.5-inch hole was observed in the crankcase, above the number 1 cylinder, which was attributed to the separation of the aft-top counterweight assembly. No other mechanical failures were observed. This was the airplane's first flight after an annual inspection. The engines had been operating for approximately 308 hours since they were disassembled and inspected after the airplane sustained a gear-up landing. At that time, the work performed on the left engine included the installation of new snap rings on the counterweight assemblies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.