What happened
On May 2, 2011, a Beech E18S, registration N18R, departed from runway 9L at Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF) for an international cargo flight to the Bahamas. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot notified air traffic control that the aircraft was turning downwind. Witnesses observed that the airplane did not appear to be developing full power.
The aircraft climbed to approximately 100 feet before banking left and losing altitude. The plane struck a tree with its left inboard wing, then hit a fence and two vehicles in a residential area. A post-crash fire destroyed much of the cabin and the left wing. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the No. 1 engine and its cowling had separated from the aircraft, while the No. 2 engine and its cowling also separated. While the No. 1 propeller showed evidence of S-bending and scratching consistent with impact, the No. 2 propeller blades showed no such damage, indicating the engine was not producing power at the time of impact.
Examination of the No. 2 engine revealed that compression on four of the nine cylinders was below specification. The engine's main fuel pump exhibited internal corrosion and gear bearing play. Additionally, both magnetos contained moisture and corrosion; the left magneto sparked in a random pattern, and the right magneto's points would not open due to a worn camshaft follower.
Maintenance records showed the last recorded inspection was an annual and 100-hour inspection approximately 11 months prior to the accident. Although a cylinder had been replaced on the No. 2 engine the night before the accident, there was no logbook entry confirming the installation, and the mechanic did not perform a subsequent compression check or magneto inspection.
Findings
- The pilot did not follow the manufacturer's single-engine emergency procedures, which required retracting the landing gear and feathering the windmilling propeller to maintain altitude.
- At the time of impact, the landing gear was still in the down position, the mixture controls were full-rich, and neither propeller had been feathered.
- The No. 2 engine was incapable of producing full rated horsepower due to low cylinder compression and malfunctioning magnetos.
- The aircraft had been stored outdoors, and heavy rainfall in the week preceding the accident likely contributed to the moisture and corrosion found in the magneto components.