Accident Details
On September 13, 2021, at approximately 1045 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft C24R, registration N5246M, was substantially damaged during an accident at Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ) in St. Augustine, Florida. The aircraft was conducting a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. On board were three flight instructors, all employed by the same flight school. The chief flight instructor occupied the left front seat and was checking out the other two instructors in the aircraft.
According to the instructors, after a preflight inspection and engine run-up, the flight instructor in the right front seat performed a short-field takeoff maneuver from runway 13. The runway length was 8,001 feet. The aircraft became airborne after about 2,000 feet, but at approximately 150 feet above ground level, it failed to climb and would not hold altitude or airspeed. The chief flight instructor then took control and attempted a forced landing on the remaining runway. During the forced landing, the aircraft impacted the approach lighting system, flipped over, and came to rest in a marsh about 150 feet from the runway 31 displaced threshold.
Aircraft and Maintenance
The last annual inspection occurred on March 12, 2021, about six months before the accident, during which the aircraft accumulated about 5 hours. The engine had 5,386 hours total time and 1,883 hours since overhaul. Maintenance logbooks indicated the aircraft was under a 100-hour/annual inspection program. At the last inspection, the engine, airframe, and propeller were signed off as airworthy with no noted defects or irregularities.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and found the left wing partially detached from the fuselage, a twisted empennage, and crushing and buckling damage to much of the airframe. The wreckage was recovered from the marsh for further examination.
During the engine examination, valve covers were removed to inspect rocker arms. The propeller was rotated by hand, and thumb compression was established on all cylinders. Crankshaft continuity was present, magneto couplings were heard rotating, and the vacuum pump shaft was observed rotating. However, when the magnetos were removed and rotated with an electric drill, no spark was produced. Disassembly revealed water damage and corrosion on the magnetos.
The No. 4 fuel injector line had a cracked threaded nut and was not secured tightly to the injector. The No. 2 fuel injector line was secured by only one thread and could be removed by hand. Examination of the air filter box showed the filter element was in the intake hose, partially obstructing the air intake line, though damage to the filter box was consistent with water impact. The oil filter screen contained large pieces of carbon and metal deposits.
Weight and balance and performance data were computed using the aircraft's pilot operating handbook. The weight was within the weight and moment envelope, and the calculated takeoff distance was about 1,600 feet.