Accident Overview
On July 24, 2010, about 2025 eastern daylight time, a Beech A24R, registration N24584, impacted terrain after a loss of engine power during initial climb following departure from Muskegon County Airport (MKG), Muskegon, Michigan. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire. The flight, operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, originated from MKG with DuPage Airport (DPA), West Chicago, Illinois, as the intended destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that earlier that day he had flown three previous legs: from DPA to Manistee, Michigan; then to Cadillac, Michigan, where a passenger was dropped off; and finally to MKG, where the airplane was refueled with 42.4 gallons of fuel.
Pilot Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane ratings. He was also a certified flight instructor with single-engine land, multi-engine land, and airplane instrument ratings. He had accumulated about 2,504 total flight hours, with 39 hours in the accident make and model. He held a first-class medical certificate.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a single-engine Beech A24R, serial number MC-125, with seating for six and a maximum gross weight of 2,635 pounds. The engine was a 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360-A1B1. The last annual maintenance inspection was conducted on July 7, 2010, and the total airframe time at that inspection was 2,730 hours.
Accident Sequence and Examination
During the accident flight, the pilot performed a preflight inspection at MKG that included checking the fuel for contamination; no contamination was evident. The taxi and pre-takeoff engine run-up were normal, as was the initial departure. When the airplane reached about 200 feet in the air, the pilot retracted the landing gear, and the engine started running rough and backfiring. The pilot performed emergency checklist procedures for engine failure after liftoff, switching fuel tanks and adjusting the fuel mixture in an attempt to restore smooth operation. As the airplane was losing altitude, the pilot decided against returning to the airport. He banked left to avoid houses and executed a forced landing in a wooded area. Although the stall warning horn sounded, he maintained flying speed. The airplane struck a pine tree and impacted terrain about 40 feet away from the tree, less than a mile from the airport. A local resident arrived shortly after the accident and assisted the pilot in evacuating. Soon after the pilot escaped, the airplane was engulfed in flames and much of the structure was consumed by fire.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and at a hangar where the wreckage was moved. Flight controls exhibited continuity. The right wing had extensive fire damage, while the left wing was largely intact. Approximately 5–6 gallons of light blue fluid were drained from the left fuel tank. The cockpit and instrument panel were consumed by fire.
The engine exhibited extensive fire damage. The crankshaft was rotated and all cylinders exhibited “thumb” compression. The bottom spark plugs were removed and appeared clean. The right magneto produced spark on all four leads, while the left magneto did not spark; its impulse coupling worked but the wire leads were fire damaged. No fuel was found in the fuel lines or fuel divider. The engine-driven fuel pump exhibited sucking action. The fuel servo had fire damage and minor impact damage. The electric fuel boost pump appeared jammed. The fuel selector was fire damaged, and its placard was consumed by fire. Air was blown through the left tank fuel line and through the fuel selector. The air intake was clean and the filter element appeared clean. The propeller remained attached to the engine, with all three blades exhibiting some degree of aft bending.
Fuel System Component Inspection
The following fuel system components were examined at RLB Accessories in Addison, Illinois: (1) fuel injector servo, (2) engine-driven fuel pump, (3) electric boost pump, (4) gascolator, and (5) fuel selector. The fuel servo’s - 2538283 [dash 2538283] seat was fire damaged; a new seat was installed and the servo passed the bench test. The engine-driven fuel pump was able to pump fluid when manipulated. The electric boost pump exhibited fire and impact damage, appeared jammed; its motor was removed and operated when electrical power was applied. The gascolator was intact but fire damaged, the fuel screen intact but discolored from fire; the gascolator bowl retaining bolt was loose and no safety wire was attached. The gascolator fuel inspection valve exhibited impact damage. The fuel selector valve was fire and impact damaged; air could be blown through fuel lines leading to the left and right fuel tanks when the valve was appropriately positioned.