Beech H50 accident near Hartwood, VA
On October 17, 2004, a Beech H50 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hartwood, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 17, 2004
- Place
- Hartwood, VA
- Aircraft
- Beech H50 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.487°N, 77.615°W
- NTSB ID
- 20041030X01727
Official records · NYC05FA006
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 17, 2004, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Beech H50, N171S, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff from the Hartwood Airport (8W8), Hartwood, Virginia. The certificated airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local maintenance test flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was based at 8W8, and utilized in parachuting operations. The pilot flew the airplane on September 25, 1999, when it experienced a right engine failure, and landed at 8W8 without further incident. According to airport personnel, the airplane remained at the airport, where it was parked outside. The airplane was sold during July 2004, and about 3 weeks prior to the accident, the airplane's new owner sent a mechanic to 8W8, to prepare the airplane for a ferry flight to an airport near Houston, Texas. During a telephone interview, the mechanic stated that he performed maintenance on the airplane that included assembling and installing a replacement right engine, and replacing the spark plugs and oil in the left engine. He also added 140 gallons of fuel to the airplane. A 10 day ferry permit was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on September 22, 2004; however, the airplane was not able to be flown because of a fuel pressure problem on the right engine. The mechanic returned home to Houston to research the problem, and then returned to 8W8 the day before the accident. The mechanic replaced an oil filter screen associated with the right engine
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with full flaps, and subsequent loss of control.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
