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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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September 10, 1983 · Cessna C-114A · N256EL

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 10, 1983
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (2 serious injuries, 3 minor injuries)
Location
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Aircraft
Cessna C-114A
Tail Number
N256EL
Operator
Martin Bilt
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA83FA226

The aircraft crashed while maneuvering at low airspeed and altitude right after takeoff. The pilot said the left engine started losing power intermittently at 90 knots. The pilot had rotated the aircraft and tried to continue the takeoff. He was cleared to land on any runway and in attempting a turn with landing gear and partial flaps extended, control was lost and a crash occurred. The aircraft flight manual states that if an engine fails below 105 mph, the takeoff should be aborted. An on-scene examination revealed no evidence to suggest a pre-impact failure or malfunction. Both propellers showed evidence of torsional overload damage. When the engines were further examined, the left engine fuel strainer was partially clogged with dirt. During a run-up test, the left engine would not develop more than 23 inches Hg at 2750 RPM and magneto RPM drop was erratic. The engine would not run with the auxiliary fuel boost pump off. The reason for the low power output was a disconnected pressure line for the turbocharger, which appeared to have been disconnected for some time.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE RIGHT AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID THE LEFT ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY AT 90 KTS. THE PLT HAD ROTATED THE ACFT AND TRIED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON ANY RWY AND IN ATTEMPTING A TURN WITH LANDING GEAR AND PARTIAL FLAPS EXTENDED CONTROL WAS LOST AND A CRASH OCCURRED. THE ACFT FLT MANUAL STATES THAT IF AN ENGINE FAILS BELOW 105 MPH THE TAKEOFF SHOULD BE ABORTED. AN ON SCENE EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST A PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. BOTH PROPELLERS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF TORSIONAL OVERLOAD DAMAGE. WHEN THE ENGINES WERE FURTHER EXAMINED THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL STRAINER WAS PARTIALLY CLOGGEDWITH DIRT. DURING A RUN-UP TEST THE LEFT ENGINE WOULD NOT DEVELOPE MORE THAN 23 INCHES HG. AT 2750 RPM AND MAGNETO RPM DROP WAS ERRATIC. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN WITH THE AUX FUEL BOOST PUMP OFF. THE REASON FOR THE LOW POWER OUTPUT WAS A DISCONNECTED PRESSURE LINE FOR THE TURBOCHARGER WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED FOR SOME TIME.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:59 EDT
Nearest AirportFt.Lauderdale Executive (0nm N)
Runway8
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna C-114A
Tail NumberN256EL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMartin Bilt
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-C · Reciprocating · 340
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (2 serious injuries, 3 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor3
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind80° @ 5 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:59
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data