On May 29, 1993, a Beech A23-24 (registration N5783V) operated by Fleming, Eldridge E. was involved in an aviation accident near Laurel, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The rupture of the fuel servo center bellows seal, contamination of the fuel servo unit with rust material, and a plugged fuel injector, which caused engine roughness and power loss. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft suffered engine roughness and power loss shortly after takeoff. The pilot executed a forced landing into trees on a golf course to avoid injuring people on the ground.
What happened
Shortly after initiating takeoff, the aircraft's engine began operating roughly and experienced a significant loss of power. Recognizing the imminent mechanical failure, the pilot initiated a forced landing procedure. The available terrain was a golf course. To prevent potential injury to golfers on the fairways, the pilot intentionally directed the aircraft into nearby trees.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed several critical mechanical failures. The fuel servo center bellows seal was found to be ruptured. This rupture would have caused an excessively rich fuel-air mixture, disrupting normal combustion. Additionally, the fuel servo unit contained contamination in the form of rust material. One fuel injector was also found to be plugged, further restricting fuel flow.
Findings
The engine failure was directly linked to internal fuel system components. The ruptured seal and contaminated servo unit prevented proper fuel metering. The plugged injector compounded the issue. These mechanical defects resulted in the loss of power during the critical climb phase.
Probable cause
The rupture of the fuel servo center bellows seal, contamination of the fuel servo unit with rust material, and a plugged fuel injector, which caused engine roughness and power loss.