14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in Hollister, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/09/2014
Aircraft: BEECH G18, registration: VH-NWB
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot was preparing the airplane for a transpacific flight. The day before the accident, he conducted two test flights, and he noted that, during each flight, the oil temperature for the right engine was slightly higher than expected but that it remained within normal operating limitations. On the day of the accident, he decided to perform another test flight and brought a mechanic to assist with identifying any engine issues. The pilot reported that, just after liftoff, the airplane’s right wing dropped, which he believed was due to a loss of right engine power. The pilot decided to reduce the left engine’s power in an attempt to return the airplane to a wings-level attitude. The airplane then rolled left and pitched nose down. The airplane landed hard in a left-wing-low attitude, and the left main landing gear tire ruptured. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane, which subsequently ground looped, departed the runway surface, and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing tip and aileron. The mechanic-passenger reported that the pilot did not align the airplane with the runway centerline during the takeoff, and, as a result, when the tailwheel lifted, the airplane veered left. As the pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway centerline, the airplane became airborne in a left-wing-high configuration. The airplane lifted off and began to climb and then the nose and left wing dropped. The mechanic reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures to the right engine that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot, in attempting to maintain runway alignment and a wings-level attitude, failed to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing, loss of directional control, and ground loop.
On February 14, 2012, about 1340 Pacific standard time, a foreign-registered (Australia) Beech Aircraft Corp. G18-S, VH-NWB, landed hard during an aborted takeoff at Hollister Municipal Airport (CVH), Hollister, California. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area test flight.
The pilot reported that he was to ferry the airplane to Australia the following day with a planned intermediate stop in Hilo, Hawaii. He had performed two test flights the day before the accident without incident. The pilot reported that during the two test flights the right-hand engine had a slightly higher oil temperature indication than the left engine, but it was still within operating limitations, and there was a shudder in flight that lasted for no more than a second or two.
On the day of the accident, the pilot decided to undertake one more test flight before departing for Hilo the next day. He reported that he took a mechanic along for the flight to view the oil gauge and feel the shudder. While on the ground there was no high oil temperature indication. As the airplane began its takeoff roll, the pilot indicated that it was not as perfect as the earlier flights. Around 50 miles per hour (mph) the tail came up, and at 100 mph the main wheels lifted off the ground. The speed continued to increase during climb out.
About 30 feet above the ground, the pilot stated that without notice the right wing fell and he believed that the right engine had lost some power. He countered with aileron control, which was not effective because the airspeed was below blue line. The pilot immediately retarded the left engine in an attempt to return to a wings level attitude. He stated that he felt this corrective step was necessary, but perhaps too aggressive in the process of getting the wings level. The airplane subsequently descended and landed hard on the left main landing gear, which blew the tire. The airplane departed the side of the runway coming to rest in a grassy area.
The mechanic reported that during the takeoff roll, as the airplane was gaining speed, the tail began to lift and the airplane veered to the left of the runway and almost ran over a taxiway exit sign. Corrections were made and the left wing began to lift as the airplane was heading back toward runway centerline. As the airplane was approaching the center of the runway, it became airborne with the left wing higher than the right wing. The airplane was not aligned with runway centerline, and the airspeed was about 90-95 knots or less. The airplane attained an altitude of about 70 to 90 feet above ground level when the nose dropped and the left wing began to drop lower than the right wing. The airplane descended and ground looped to the left of the runway coming to rest in a ditch next to the runway.
In the mechanic's statement, he did not indicate a mechanical malfunction or loss of power to the right engine.
NTSB Identification: WPR12LA104
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in Hollister, CA
Aircraft: BEECH G18, registration: VHNWB
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On February 14, 2012, about 1340 Pacific standard time, a foreign-registered (Australia) Beech Aircraft Corp. G18-S, VH-NWB, departed runway 31 at Hollister Municipal Airport (CVH), Hollister, California. The pilot operated the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a test flight. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing. The pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, he was to ferry the airplane to Australia the following day with a planned intermediate stop in Hilo, Hawaii. He had performed two test flights the day before the accident without incident. The pilot reported that on that flight the right-hand engine had a slightly higher oil temperature indication and a shudder in flight that lasted for no more than a second or two. After landing he made some inquiries about the oil and learned that the left-hand engine had previously run a higher oil temperature, but it was not outside the operating limitations.
The pilot decided to undertake one more test flight prior to fueling for his flight to Hilo. He also decided to take the mechanic with him on the accident flight to view the oil gauge and feel the shudder; there was no high oil temperature indication on the ground. As the airplane began its takeoff roll, the pilot indicated that it was not as perfect as the earlier flights. Around 100 miles per hour, the main wheels lifted off the ground, and the speed continued to increase during climb out.
About 30 feet above the ground, the pilot stated that without notice the right wing fell. He believed that the right engine had lost some power, which he countered with aileron. The pilot stated that the airspeed was below blue line and he did not have aileron control, so he immediately retarded the left engine to return to a wings level attitude. The airplane landed hard on the left tire, which blew, and the airplane departed the runway and struck a grassy bank.
Nick Lovejoy
The pilot of the plane sits uninjured after the Beechcraft 18 crashed on February 14th at the Hollister Municipal Airport.
Nick Lovejoy
The Beechcraft 18 plane that crashed on February 14th - lost power while taking off from the Hollister Municipal Airport.
Nick Lovejoy
Emergency crews secure the plane after it lost power and crashed on February 14th at the Hollister Municipal Airport.
Two people escaped injury on February 14 when an airplane ran off a runway on takeoff at the Hollister airport and crashed into a small grass bank.
The accident happened around 1:30 p.m. at the Hollister Municipal Airport. Neither of the two people on the plane, including the pilot and mechanic, were U.S. residents, said Hollister police Capt. Carlos Reynoso. The Australian pilot declined to comment at the accident scene.
The two men reported to police investigators that the Beechcraft 18 aircraft lost power on takeoff. It skidded off the runway and stopped when it struck the small mound on the northwest end of the airport.
There was minor damage to the airplane to the right main gear.
The Federal Aviation Administration was set to follow up Tuesday with its own investigation.
NTSB Identification: WPR12LA104
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in Hollister, CA
Aircraft: BEECH G18, registration: VHNWB
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On February 14, 2012, about 1340 Pacific standard time, a foreign-registered (Australia) Beech Aircraft Corp. G18-S, VH-NWB, departed runway 31 at Hollister Municipal Airport (CVH), Hollister, California. The pilot operated the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a test flight. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing. The pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, he was to ferry the airplane to Australia the following day with a planned intermediate stop in Hilo, Hawaii. He had performed two test flights the day before the accident without incident. The pilot reported that on that flight the right-hand engine had a slightly higher oil temperature indication and a shudder in flight that lasted for no more than a second or two. After landing he made some inquiries about the oil and learned that the left-hand engine had previously run a higher oil temperature, but it was not outside the operating limitations.
The pilot decided to undertake one more test flight prior to fueling for his flight to Hilo. He also decided to take the mechanic with him on the accident flight to view the oil gauge and feel the shudder; there was no high oil temperature indication on the ground. As the airplane began its takeoff roll, the pilot indicated that it was not as perfect as the earlier flights. Around 100 miles per hour, the main wheels lifted off the ground, and the speed continued to increase during climb out.
About 30 feet above the ground, the pilot stated that without notice the right wing fell. He believed that the right engine had lost some power, which he countered with aileron. The pilot stated that the airspeed was below blue line and he did not have aileron control, so he immediately retarded the left engine to return to a wings level attitude. The airplane landed hard on the left tire, which blew, and the airplane departed the runway and struck a grassy bank.
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