Accident Overview
On July 31, 2009, at about 1426 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 337F, registration N337BA, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain after takeoff from runway 33 (4,050 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at Frankfort Dow Memorial Field (FKS), near Frankfort, Michigan. A post-impact ground fire occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot on board sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from FKS and was destined for Washington Island Airport, near Washington Island, Wisconsin.
Witness Accounts
A witness, preparing to depart from FKS, observed the pilot working on the accident airplane with cowlings removed from the rear engine. The pilot told the witness about an oil leak at the flange where the oil filter attached, describing it as significant. The pilot explained that he intended to get enough oil pressure in the rear engine to feather the propeller and then depart using only the front engine. When asked if the airplane could climb out from takeoff, the pilot replied it could if lightly loaded. The witness also inquired about the planned route across the lake versus the coastline.
Another witness, interviewed by an FAA inspector, reported seeing the Cessna taxi from the ramp to runway 33 with the rear engine not running and the rear propeller appearing feathered. The airplane accelerated slowly, aborted near the windsock, and rolled to the end of the runway. It turned around and made a high-power run back down runway 15, which was also aborted. After turning around again on runway 33, the airplane began its takeoff run, lifted off, remained low in ground effect, then started a shallow climb. As it reached the trees off the end of the runway, it appeared very low over the trees, then stalled and hit the trees.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument airplane ratings. His last application for a medical certificate was on June 3, 2005, and FAA records indicated that he had accumulated 1,567 hours of total flight time.
The airplane was a 1972 Cessna 337F Skymaster, serial number 33701434. It was a six-place, multi-engine, high-wing airplane powered by two six-cylinder, 210-horsepower Teledyne Continental Motors IO-360-C engines in a push-pull configuration. The front engine had serial number 060710-R; the rear engine had serial number 51888-71C.
Examination Findings
Examination of the wreckage and engines revealed no pre-impact anomalies other than those noted with the rear engine. A placard within the wreckage stated, “Do not initiate single engine takeoff.” The front engine’s propeller sustained S-bending blade damage and a separated blade tip. Photographs of the rear engine’s propeller and spinner showed no damage consistent with rotation, and the propeller was near the feathered position. The adapter retaining nut was deformed consistent with tool marks. The adapter’s flange was not marked with an “S” as indicated in Teledyne Continental Motors service bulletin SB94-2. That bulletin addressed replacement of the oil filter mounting stud to prevent loosening. Cessna service bulletin MEB93-1 addressed inspections for oil filter adapter security.
The pilot was sent an accident report form, but a completed one was not received by the NTSB.