On July 18, 1985, a Beech E18S (registration N51W) operated by Laffayette Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Youngstown, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Activation of the stick shaker system due to an electrical problem in the left engine nacelle area, with the exact cause undetermined due to a ground fire. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced an unidentifiable vibration during initial climb, leading to a precautionary gear-up landing. Investigation revealed the stick shaker system was triggered by an electrical fault in the left engine nacelle.
What happened
During the initial climb phase of flight, the pilot reported experiencing a noticeable vibration within the aircraft. Despite efforts to locate the source of the disturbance, the pilot was unable to identify the specific cause. Consequently, the decision was made to execute a precautionary landing with the landing gear retracted on the remaining runway.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the stick shaker system had been activated. This activation was traced to an electrical problem located in the area of the left engine nacelle. However, investigators were unable to determine the exact nature or root cause of this electrical issue because a ground fire had occurred in that specific area, obscuring critical evidence.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the activation of the stick shaker system due to an electrical fault in the left engine nacelle. The inability to pinpoint the exact cause of the electrical problem was directly attributed to the damage caused by the subsequent ground fire.
Probable cause
Activation of the stick shaker system due to an electrical problem in the left engine nacelle area, with the exact cause undetermined due to a ground fire.