Beechcraft U-8F N62069

Summary

On 17 June 2021 at about 01:05 local time, a Beechcraft U-8F registered N62069, operated by Bemidji Aviation Services Inc, was involved in an accident near Goodland, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and one 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

17 June 2021 at 01:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Goodland, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Renner Fld /Goodland Muni/ (GLD)

Coordinates

39.3706, -101.6990

Aircraft

Beechcraft U-8F

Registration

N62069

Category

Airplane

Year built

1962

Engines

2

Operator

Bemidji Aviation Services Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Goodland → Denver

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA274

1 person had minor injuries.

Maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the airplane, which failed to detect and correct chafed electrical wiring and a degraded fuel bladder with holes, which resulted in ignition of fuel vapor and a right wing explosion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot heard a loud bang while starting the right engine and noticed flames exiting the right wing. An airport surveillance camera captured a wing explosion that lasted about 1 second, which substantially damaged the right wing. Examination revealed that the right wing outboard aft fuel bladder was brittle, with several holes due to age-related oxidation, and electrical wiring to the navigation lights was chafed in two locations, with evidence of electrical arcing. Review of maintenance records indicated that the airplane was inspected about 50 hours before the accident; the inspection included checking the fuel tanks for leakage, and electrical wiring for chafing. Based on the condition of the fuel bladder and wiring, it is likely that the most recent inspection was inadequate. About 2 years before the accident, the airplane’s left wing exploded due to ignition of fuel vapor. Following the most recent wing explosion accident, the operator instituted several maintenance protocols to aid in detection of a fuel leak, including top-off of the fuel system in conjunction with the wing inspection procedure checklist or unscheduled fuel system maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.