NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 17, 2011, at 0805 central daylight time, a Cessna, 310Q, N444YM, owned by Hamilton Air LLC and operated by an individual, impacted a main road and struck a tree in a residential area during the initial takeoff climb at the Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP), Tupelo, Mississippi. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The airplane just had undergone an annual inspection. The number two cylinder on the left engine was replaced as one of the maintenance items performed; due to low compression when checked. The airplane had a ground run up of both engines as part of the post-maintenance check before the airplane was returned to service. The pilot/owner requested to have the airplane serviced with 15 gallons of aviation fuel prior to departing on the first flight after the annual inspection.

Information provided by the local authorities indicated that the airplane was cleared to depart from runway 36 with an easterly departure. Witnesses observed the airplane roll down the runway and liftoff. Once the airplane reached an estimated altitude of 300 - 500 feet above the runway, about mid field, the airplane was observed to turn to the left on a west heading as it descended. There were disagreements among the witness statements; some heard the engines lose power and others heard the engines still operating at low power. The airplane flew, in a level attitude, under electrical power lines and over the airport’s perimeter fence, impacting the adjacent main road separating all three of the landing gear. A vehicle on the road was struck with airplane debris as it was driving by. The airplane continued forward until the left wing outer section impacted a tree, separating a four foot section of the outer left wing. The airplane’s nose section then impacted the base of a 3 foot diameter tree in the front yard of a house. There was no communication between the pilot and the controller after the clearance for takeoff was given and no distress calls were heard at the time of the accident.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 69, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine and multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He was issued a second-class medical certificate on August 18, 2010, with limitation of must wear corrective lenses. He documented 2,740 total hours at that time. The pilot’s flight logbook was not located after the accident and the date of his last bennial flight review could not be determined.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Cessna 310Q is a six place, all metal, low wing, multi-engine airplane, with retractable landing gear, serial number 310Q0958, was manufactured in 1974, and issued a standard airworthiness certificate, in the normal category. The airplane was powered by 2 Continental IO-470-VO, 260-horsepower engines equipped with McCauley model 3AF32C87-QR/S82NC-4, three bladed, variable-pitch, propellers. The airplane’s last annual inspection was August 16, 2011 and the airplane had a total of 3,382.1 hours at that time. The left engine had a total time of 710 .8 hours since overhaul and the right engine had 652.2 total hours since overhaul.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Runway 36 at TUP is an asphalt/grooved, 6502 foot long by 150 foot wide, at an elevation of 346 feet mean sea level . North of runway 36 is an unobstructed field within the airport’s property.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The closest official weather observation was at the Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP), Tupelo, Mississippi, adjacent to the accident site. The TUP 0753 automated weather observation was wind calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky clear; temperature 24 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 20 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Examination of the crash site showed that initial contact with the road left impact marks consistent with propeller blade strikes and tire marks. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 290 degrees. The airplane’s front nose section, cockpit, and cabin area were crushed aft to the middle seat row. The instrument panel was compressed aft to the aft wing spar. A four foot section of the outboard left wing, including the wing’s fuel tip tank, separated and came to rest about 10 feet ahead, and to the left, of the main wreckage. The remaining left wing was displaced forward, which separated from its aft wing to fuselage attachment point. The left engine, with the propeller, remained attached to the left wing structure. The right wing remained attached to the fuselage and impact damage was observed. The right engine separated from its mounting points and remained attached by supply lines. The right propeller separated from the engine’s crankshaft flange and was located about 40 feet ahead of the main wreckage; impacting the ground and an exterior house wall before coming to rest on the ground.

The fuselage, from the middle seat area, and empennage section remained intact with impact damage observed. All three landing gear separated from their respective attachment points and came to rest behind the main wreckage. All fuel cells, left and right main tanks (wing tips) and aux tanks (wings) were breached. All flight control surfaces were accounted for and located at the accident site. Flight control continuity was established, all damage observed was consistent with impact damage. The left and right fuel selector valves positions could not be determined due to impact damage. Evidence of aviation fuel was present at the accident sight and several gallons were recovered during the wreckage recovery process.

Examination of the left engine showed the B-nut on the fuel supply hose to the fuel manifold valve on top of the engine was backed off about a quarter turn and the anti-tamper putty was broken.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office, Jackson, Mississippi conducted a postmortem examination of the pilot. The cause of death was multiple blunt trauma.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) conducted toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. The tests were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. The testing was positive for Rosuvastatin in the urine.

TEST AND RESEARCH

A teardown examination on both propellers was performed at the manufacturer’s facility with FAA oversight. The examination of the left propeller revealed there was no indication of failure prior to impact and the damage was consistent with impact damage. The propeller was rotating at impact at low power or windmilling in a low pitch position at impact. The examination of the right propeller revealed there was no indication of failure prior to impact and the damage was consistent with impact damage. The propeller was rotating at a high power level in a low pitch position at impact.

With Safety Board oversight the left and right engines were test run at the manufacturer’s facility. The right and left engine run did not indicate any abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation and the engines did produce production rated power. After completion of the left engine test run, the manifold valve fuel supply hose B-nut was set at finger tight torque. A wire was attached to loosen the B-nut during the engine run. A stop was in place to limit the rotation. The engine was started and set at full throttle and the B-nut loosened to slightly over a quarter turn; this process was repeated several time. When the B-nut was loosened the engine immediately lost power and shut down; in some cases, the engine was heard backfiring before shutting down.

In an interview with the mechanic that performed the number two cylinder replacement prior to the accident flight, it was revealed that the fuel supply hose B-nut to the manifold valve was removed to facilitate the cylinder replacement. He stated that the B-nut was torqued at the time of reinstallation; however, he did not have any anti-tamper putty to mark the B-nut after the installation.

The airplane’s Owner’s Manual, Section III, Emergency Procedures, Engine Inoperative Procedure, provides instructions on managing an engine failure prior, during, and after takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s delayed reaction in performing the engine failure procedures and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s improper torquing of the B-nut between the fuel supply hose and the manifold valve.