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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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May 6, 1985 · Beech E18S · N57AE

West Palm Bch, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 6, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 4 uninjured
Location
West Palm Bch, FL
Aircraft
Beech E18S
Tail Number
N57AE
Operator
Airsouth
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA85FA166

DRG TAKEOFF FROM RWY 13, THE L ENG LOST PWR AFTER THE ACFT HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200' AGL & ACCELLERATED TO APRX 125 KTS WITH THE GEAR & FLAPS RETRACTED. THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF & TURNED THE ACFT TO LAND ON RWY 9. HOWEVER, IT TOUCHED DWNIN THE GRASS AFTER PASSING THE INTX OF RWYS 9 & 13, HEADING APRX 110 DEG. AFTER LANDING, THE ACFT CONTINUED ACROSS A TAXIWAY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED, THE ACFT NOSED DWN & BOTH PROPS STRUCK THE GND. THE R ENG MOUNTS FAILED, & RPRTDLY, THE ACFT LUNGED AS THE R ENG FOLDED UNDER THE WING. A PAX, WHOSE SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE, WAS THROWN FROMHER SEAT & WAS INJURED. WATER & PRODUCES OF CORROSION WERE FND IN THE L AUX FUEL TANK & IN THE LINES & STRAINER FOR THE L ENG. AN EXAM OF THE COMPANY CREW TRAINING RECORDS & ACFT MAINT RECORDS REVEALED NUMEROUS OMISSIONS, IMPROPER ENTRIES &FAILURE TO DOCUMENT PURPORTED MAINT. THESE ERRORS HAD OCCURRED PRIOR TO & CONTINUED AFTER THE FAA HAD APPROVED ISSUANCE OF AN AIR CARRIER OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE FOR THE COMPANY. THE PAX'S RPRTD THERE WAS NO PREFLT PAX BRIEFING BFR TAKEOFF.

Full Narrative

DRG TAKEOFF FROM RWY 13, THE L ENG LOST PWR AFTER THE ACFT HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200' AGL & ACCELLERATED TO APRX 125 KTS WITH THE GEAR & FLAPS RETRACTED. THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF & TURNED THE ACFT TO LAND ON RWY 9. HOWEVER, IT TOUCHED DWNIN THE GRASS AFTER PASSING THE INTX OF RWYS 9 & 13, HEADING APRX 110 DEG. AFTER LANDING, THE ACFT CONTINUED ACROSS A TAXIWAY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED, THE ACFT NOSED DWN & BOTH PROPS STRUCK THE GND. THE R ENG MOUNTS FAILED, & RPRTDLY, THE ACFT LUNGED AS THE R ENG FOLDED UNDER THE WING. A PAX, WHOSE SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE, WAS THROWN FROMHER SEAT & WAS INJURED. WATER & PRODUCES OF CORROSION WERE FND IN THE L AUX FUEL TANK & IN THE LINES & STRAINER FOR THE L ENG. AN EXAM OF THE COMPANY CREW TRAINING RECORDS & ACFT MAINT RECORDS REVEALED NUMEROUS OMISSIONS, IMPROPER ENTRIES &FAILURE TO DOCUMENT PURPORTED MAINT. THESE ERRORS HAD OCCURRED PRIOR TO & CONTINUED AFTER THE FAA HAD APPROVED ISSUANCE OF AN AIR CARRIER OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE FOR THE COMPANY. THE PAX'S RPRTD THERE WAS NO PREFLT PAX BRIEFING BFR TAKEOFF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:14 EDT
Nearest AirportPalm Beach Intl (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length6930 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech E18S
Tail NumberN57AE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAirsouth
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985-14B · Reciprocating · 450
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 4 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured4
Total5
Crew 1Age 59 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind80° @ 10 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data