On September 30, 2004, a Beech B95A (registration N1703Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Burlington, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The improper maintenance of the fuel servo resulting in a loose adjustment nut and subsequent failure of the fuel injection servo which led to a complete loss of power on the right engine. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane was destroyed after a loss of control during a right turn following takeoff. Examination revealed a fuel servo with loose, non-original regulator nuts and out-of-spec fuel flow, though no pre-impact abnormalities were found in the control system or left engine.
Accident Overview
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain after experiencing a loss of control following takeoff. No pre-impact abnormalities were found in the airplane's control system or left engine during examination.
Witness Observations
A witness observed the airplane take off and then execute a right turn that progressively increased in bank angle until the airplane struck the ground.
Right Engine Examination
Examination of the right engine revealed that it would not operate continuously with the installed fuel servo. A flow test of the fuel servo showed that the fuel flow was not within the manufacturer's specifications. Disassembly of the fuel servo disclosed that the fuel regulator nuts were loose and not the same as those originally supplied by the manufacturer. The measured drag torque of the regulator nuts was below the manufacturer's minimum specifications.
Maintenance Records
An overhaul tag indicated that the fuel servo had been previously overhauled. However, a search of the aircraft records for the previous five years showed no record of the fuel servo being overhauled.