NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On May 22, 2001, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Beech 58, N23AM, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain at the pilot's private airstrip near Gaylord, Michigan, following a reported in-flight loss of engine power during initial climb on takeoff from runway 15 (3,400 feet by 100 feet, grass/soft). The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported he sustained no injury and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Owosso Community Airport, near Owosso, Michigan.

The pilot reported in a written statement:

Grass strip estimated [about] 12" length of grass[.] Soft field technique

used with engines brought to full power and checked prior to release

of brakes. Acceleration to Red line (85 kts) occurred without incident.

Within seconds of rotation I perceived an abrupt hard yaw to the

left with near simultaneous rolling of the right wing up and

activation of stall warning horn. I reflexly applied hard right rudder

[and] [aileron] [and] pushed the nose down which partial reduced the yaw

[and] roll. We continued to rotate in a spin with the left wing tip

striking the ground [and] spun tail first into the ground. The entire

incident from perception of yaw to ground strike occurred in a matter of a

second or two.

The pilot stated under mechanical malfunction failure that he had a "power loss [left] engine."

INJURIES TO PERSONS

According to the police report, the passenger received a concussion and some bruising.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a private pilot rating. He held a Second Class Medical Certificate dated December 19, 2000. The medical certificate had a limitation for corrective glasses. The pilot stated that he had 784 hours of total time, 500 hours of time in the same make and model as the accident airplane, and 525 hours in multiengine engine airplanes. He stated that he had 29 hours of flight time in the last 90 days.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a Beech 58, serial number TH-1497. The pilot stated that the last annual was performed on September 11, 2000. He stated that the airplane accumulated 58 hours since the annual.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1853, the Otsego County Airport, near Gaylord, Michigan, (about 225 degrees and 9 miles from the accident site) weather was: Wind 200 degrees at 13 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 14 degrees C; dew point 2 degrees C; altimeter 29.66 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. An inspector stated:

Upon arrival I surveyed the aircraft, and the airstrip where the aircraft

departed from. I immediately noticed the grass had not been mowed and the

approximate length of the grass was 16" to 18" high. The aircraft was

totally destroyed. The landing gear collapsed during impact, left and

right wings were twisted and bent. The left and right engines broke free

from the mounts, and the aft fuselage section including the empennage

completely separated from the forward section (just aft of the aft facing

seats) and came to rest on the top inboard section of the left wing and

engine. I was unable to determine any anomalies.

The left engine was shipped to Teledyne Continental Motors for an engine run.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

The left engine was an IO-550-C, serial number 815316-R. The engine was test run on August 22, 2001. The engine produced rated power.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The parties to the investigation included the FAA and Teledyne Continental Motors.

The engine was returned to the airplane owner.

The Beech 58 manual was reviewed. A section in the emergency procedures section stated:

The following information is presented to enable the pilot to form, in advance, a definite plan

of action for coping with the most probable emergency situations which could occur in the

operation of the airplane. Where practicable, the emergencies requiring immediate

corrective action are treated in check list form for easy reference and familiarization. Other

situations, in which more time is usually permitted to decide on and execute a plan of

action, are discussed at some length. ...

ENGINE FAILURE DURING TAKE-OFF

1. Throttles - CLOSED

2. Braking - MAXIMUM

If insufficient runway remains for stopping:

3. Fuel Selector Valves - OFF

4. Battery, Alternator, and Magneto/Start Switches - OFF

ENGINE FAILURE AFTER LIFT-OFF AND IN FLIGHT

NOTE

The most important aspect of engine failure is

the necessity to maintain lateral and directional

control. If airspeed is below 81 kts, reduce

power on the operative engine as required to

maintain control.

An immediate landing is advisable regardless of take-off weight. ...

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot not maintaining directional control during the reported loss of number one engine power during initial climb and the pilot not following the airplane emergency procedure's corrective action for engine failure after lift-off, and the inadvertent stall/spin he encountered. Factors were the high grass on the runway, the runway grass cutting maintenance not being performed by the pilot/airstrip owner, and the unsuitable terrain used by the pilot.