History of Flight
On December 7, 2017, about 2100 Atlantic standard time, a Beech BE58, registration N4494A, was destroyed when it struck terrain while returning to the runway shortly after takeoff from Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (TISX) in Christiansted, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. The private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was destined for Cyril E. King Airport (TIST) in St. Thomas. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed.
Air traffic control audio indicated the airplane departed runway 10. Soon after, the pilot reported that the engines were "not running right" and requested to return. The controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 10, but no further communications were received.
Before departure, the pilot contacted a flight instructor and mechanic because the left engine would not start and the red alternator light was on. The instructor advised waiting until the next day to fly. The day after the accident, an oil stain was found on the ramp where the airplane had been parked.
Personnel Information
FAA records showed the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating; he did not have a multiengine rating. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued August 1, 2016, with the limitation "must have available glasses for near vision." At that time, he reported 765 total hours of flight experience. The pilot's logbook was not located.
Aircraft Information
The six-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane was manufactured in 1970. It was powered by two Continental IO-520, 285-horsepower engines, each driving a Hartzell three-bladed, constant-speed, full-feathering propeller. Maintenance logbooks were not located.
Meteorological Information
At 2053, TISX reported wind from 070° at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 ft, temperature 25°C, dew point 21°C, and altimeter setting 30.01 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The wreckage lay on flat terrain about 500 ft from the displaced threshold of runway 10 and about 30 ft right of the extended centerline. All major components were within 30 ft of the main wreckage.
Flight control continuity was confirmed. The landing gear and flaps were retracted. The rudder and ailerons were largely consumed by fire, but cables were traced forward. The right wing was folded over the cockpit; the right engine was attached and inverted. Its cylinders appeared normal via borescope; spark plugs showed normal wear. The fuel manifold was thermally damaged but the screen was clean. The right propeller separated from the engine; one blade was buried, another partially buried, a third exhibited minimal damage.
The left wing remained attached with extensive fire damage. The left engine separated from its mounts; connecting rods No. 4, 5, and 6 were broken. Cylinder borescope showed intact valves; spark plugs normal. The left propeller separated but remained attached to the crankshaft flange; blades appeared in the feathered position, one blade buried.
The left engine was examined in detail. A hole was found on the top forward crankcase above cylinders 1, 2, and 6. The No. 2 piston crown exhibited damage consistent with severe detonation; the piston side was melted and a hole near the wiper ring. Excessive deposits were inside the No. 2 cylinder. The oil pump had light scarring from hard particle passage. Magnetos sparked and showed proper firing order. Fuel nozzles were unobstructed. The fuel manifold contained small white debris identified as aluminum oxide; neither airframe nor engine manufacturer could identify a source for this debris.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Virgin Islands Office of the Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing by the FAA detected ethanol in urine and blood, consistent with postmortem alcohol production; no other substances were found.