No fatalities

1983-09-19: Beechcraft 80 Queen Air (N55ED) — Private United States of America — Miami-Opa Locka, United States of America

Miami-Opa Locka, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On September 19, 1983, a Beechcraft 80 Queen Air (registration N55ED) operated by Private United States of America was involved in an aviation accident near Miami-Opa Locka, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of engine power (total) due to improper adjustment of the fuel injector by maintenance personnel, and loss of control due to poor judgment by the pilot-in-command during a go-around, resulting in uncontrolled aircraft handling and collision with terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781220112Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft cartwheeled after a left engine power loss during approach, following an improper fuel injector adjustment. The pilot and another person were aboard; the other individual lacked a pilot certificate.

Accident Sequence

Several days before the accident, a familiarization flight was planned for the pilot by another person who claimed to be a pilot. That flight was canceled because of a problem with the left engine. On the day of the accident, the other person informed the pilot that the engine had been repaired, and they proceeded with a local test flight. The other person conducted the takeoff from the left seat. According to reports, the two switched seats before landing.

The approach appeared normal until just prior to landing, when a burst of sound from the engines was heard. The aircraft then yawed and rolled to the left. The left wing struck the ground, and the aircraft cartwheeled.

Investigation

Investigators were unable to locate the aircraft's owner or the other pilot. There is no record that the other person had ever been issued a pilot certificate. The last logbook entry for the aircraft was dated October 1982.

During teardown of the left engine, the servo fuel injector was found to have been rigged extremely lean at the idle stop.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause was determined as: Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) due to mechanical failure/malfunction, specifically an improper fuel system injector adjustment by maintenance personnel. Occurrence #2: loss of control in flight due to poor judgment by the pilot-in-command, who performed an aborted landing and initiated a go-around, resulting in uncontrolled aircraft handling. Occurrence #3: in-flight collision with terrain during the go-around.