History of Flight
On February 15, 2010, about 1542 eastern standard time, a Cessna T337G, registration N12NA, collided with terrain after a section of the right wing separated in flight while overflying runway 32 at Monmouth County Executive Airport (BLM), Farmingdale, New Jersey. The three adults and two minors on board were killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated at 1526 from BLM.
According to local authorities, the flight was intended as a pleasure flight. Three passengers were visiting from abroad. Relatives remained at the pilot/owner's hangar, which faces runway 32, to watch the departure.
A helicopter crew heard an unknown person on N12NA announce via CTAF that the airplane would depart from runway 32. Minutes later, the same crew and another pilot heard that N12NA intended to do a low pass over the runway.
Witnesses observed the airplane fly over runway 32 with gear retracted at an estimated 50 feet above ground and a higher speed than normal. About one-third down the runway, the nose pitched up and a section separated. The airplane rolled right, veered off the runway, impacted the ground, slid, and rolled, coming to rest inverted against a snow embankment near the owner's hangar.
A witness reported that the pilot/owner frequently flew low over the runway and, based on photos and videos, performed low passes followed by wing-rocking or pitch-up maneuvers.
Personnel Information
The pilot/owner, seated left front, held a private pilot certificate based on a Polish certificate (airplane single-engine land). He was issued an FAA third-class medical on January 26, 2010, with no limitations, reporting 870 civilian flight hours. His logbooks were not located.
The pilot in the right front seat held an airline transport pilot certificate (multi-engine land), commercial pilot (single-engine land), and flight instructor (single-engine land). He had an FAA first-class medical issued May 11, 2009, and logged 3,162 total hours, including 551 multi-engine.
Aircraft Information
The pressurized Cessna T337G (1973) had a standard airworthiness certificate (normal category). It was equipped with two Continental TSIO-520-series engines (300 hp each) and Hartzell three-bladed constant-speed propellers. The airplane had 22 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs), including a Horton STOL kit, Aviation Enterprises wingtip fuel tanks, and winglets. The Aviation Enterprises STC added two 3-foot, 20-gallon fuel tanks at the outboard wing ends, with winglets attached.
Annual inspection was last performed March 10, 2009, at 2,435 hours total time; both engines had 619 hours since overhaul.
Weight and Balance
Fueling records showed 90 gallons of 100LL added about one hour before departure. Exact fuel quantity and distribution could not be determined. Based on passenger weights, minimal fuel, and estimated baggage, the airplane was overweight and its center of gravity was aft of the Aviation Enterprises STC limits.
Meteorological Information
Surface weather at BLM at 1535: wind 250° at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 3°C, altimeter 29.76 inHg.
Aerodrome Information
BLM is a public airport with no control tower. Runway 32 is 7,300 ft long, 100 ft wide. Published traffic pattern is left traffic at 1,000 ft MSL.
Wreckage and Impact Information
A 6-foot section of the outboard right wing was found on runway 32 near the intersection of runways 14/32 and 03/21, along with debris. A section of the right aileron from the separated wing section was found in snow. The separated wing had a round indentation matching the rear engine nacelle/fuselage, and two propeller-slashed cuts at the trailing edge near the wingtip tank.
The main wreckage path was on a 360° heading. A 3-foot-deep crater was 633 ft from the separated wing section. Debris fanned out up to 50 ft wide to the main wreckage, which was 184 ft from the crater, inverted against a snow embankment facing east. The rear engine's propeller hub separated at the crankshaft flange; blades were twisted and bent. The forward engine separated from the firewall; one propeller blade separated. Both propellers showed damage consistent with power at low pitch at impact.
All flight controls were accounted for; cables separated from tension overload or recovery. The flap jack screw was in the flaps-up position; landing gear was retracted. Elevator trim was full nose-up but damaged, making it unreliable.
Examination of the right wing showed separation at approximately wing station 177, where the forward spar upper cap had a compression buckle consistent with upward bending failure. Sections of wing spars and stabilator were sent for metallurgical analysis.
Test and Research
Metallurgical examination of retained structure showed the right wing forward spar upper cap failed in compressive buckling, indicating the wing was overloaded in upward bending. Remaining damage was secondary.
Data from a handheld Garmin GPS showed the flight departed at 15:26:49, flew to the ocean shore, and returned. At 15:41:31, ground speed was 147 knots approaching the runway; at 15:42:23, over the runway, ground speed was 162 knots (186 mph). Last recorded ground speed at 15:42:45 was 160 knots (184 mph).
The Aviation Enterprises STC placard required: "When tip tanks are empty, Reduce the Maneuvering speed to 117 KIAS" and "Vne-Never exceed speed 187.5 KIAS." The accident airplane was placarded: "MANUVERING --- 135 KTS (155 MPH)" and "MAX AIRSPEED CAS -- Vne 187.5 KIAS." The airspeed indicator read in knots.
Initial structural examination found fatigue cracks in the left wing upper skin, indicating previous stress. The FAA later revised operating limitations for the STC based on this investigation.
Medical and Pathological Information
Postmortem examinations by the Medical Examiner's Office in Freehold, New Jersey, determined the cause of death for all occupants as blunt force trauma. Toxicology tests by CAMI on the pilot/owner and pilot-rated passenger found no ethanol or drugs.