Beechcraft 58 N86BR

Summary

On 18 September 2010 at about 21:15 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N86BR, operated by Albatross Aircraft Sales Inc, was involved in an accident near Rainelle, West Virginia, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 September 2010 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Rainelle, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.9706, -80.8061

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N86BR

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Albatross Aircraft Sales Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morgantown → Bluefield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA485

5 people had minor injuries.

The improper rigging of the fuel selector by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while in cruise flight, the right engine lost power. He attempted to move the left fuel selector to the crossfeed position in an attempt to restart the right engine, but the fuel selector knob would not turn clockwise to that position. Shortly thereafter, the left engine lost power. The pilot feathered both propellers and set the airplane up for its best glide angle in an attempt to reach the closest airport. His attempts to restart the engines during the descent were unsucessful. The pilot made a forced landing in the backyard of a private residence, and the airplane collided with a house, sustaining substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel selectors were indicating "on" for both fuel tanks, and the left fuel selector knob would not rotate clockwise to the crossfeed position. When the left fuel selector valve was disassembled, it was found to be rigged incorrectly. In the “on” position, the valve should have drawn fuel from the left and right fuel tanks. Instead, it drew fuel from the right tank only. The right fuel tank was found to be empty of all usable fuel. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the left fuel selector was removed, resealed, and reinstalled prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.