NTSB Factual Report

On February 14, 2012, about 1340 Pacific standard time, a foreign-registered (Australia) Beech Aircraft Corp. G18-S, VH-NWB, landed hard during an aborted takeoff at Hollister Municipal Airport (CVH), Hollister, California. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area test flight.

The pilot reported that he was to ferry the airplane to Australia the following day with a planned intermediate stop in Hilo, Hawaii. He had performed two test flights the day before the accident without incident. The pilot reported that during the two test flights the right-hand engine had a slightly higher oil temperature indication than the left engine, but it was still within operating limitations, and there was a shudder in flight that lasted for no more than a second or two.

On the day of the accident, the pilot decided to undertake one more test flight before departing for Hilo the next day. He reported that he took a mechanic along for the flight to view the oil gauge and feel the shudder. While on the ground there was no high oil temperature indication. As the airplane began its takeoff roll, the pilot indicated that it was not as perfect as the earlier flights. Around 50 miles per hour (mph) the tail came up, and at 100 mph the main wheels lifted off the ground. The speed continued to increase during climb out.

About 30 feet above the ground, the pilot stated that without notice the right wing fell and he believed that the right engine had lost some power. He countered with aileron control, which was not effective because the airspeed was below blue line. The pilot immediately retarded the left engine in an attempt to return to a wings level attitude. He stated that he felt this corrective step was necessary, but perhaps too aggressive in the process of getting the wings level. The airplane subsequently descended and landed hard on the left main landing gear, which blew the tire. The airplane departed the side of the runway coming to rest in a grassy area.

The mechanic reported that during the takeoff roll, as the airplane was gaining speed, the tail began to lift and the airplane veered to the left of the runway and almost ran over a taxiway exit sign. Corrections were made and the left wing began to lift as the airplane was heading back toward runway centerline. As the airplane was approaching the center of the runway, it became airborne with the left wing higher than the right wing. The airplane was not aligned with runway centerline, and the airspeed was about 90-95 knots or less. The airplane attained an altitude of about 70 to 90 feet above ground level when the nose dropped and the left wing began to drop lower than the right wing. The airplane descended and ground looped to the left of the runway coming to rest in a ditch next to the runway.

In the mechanic's statement, he did not indicate a mechanical malfunction or loss of power to the right engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing, loss of directional control, and ground loop.