Pilot Debrief

Beechcraft F33A near Fairbanks, AK — 2012-07-26

Final reportANC12FA079
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Date
2012-07-26
Location
Fairbanks, AK, USA
Airport
PAFA
Aircraft
Beechcraft F33A
Registration
N334DH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power reason that could not be determined because postaccident examination and test run did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot was the group leader of 12 airplanes flying on an aerial tour of Alaska. On the day before the accident, the airplane had been fueled by a commercial vendor, and a preflight inspection was completed for the flight the following day. The pilot stated that his preflight inspection and the airplane start, taxi, and before-takeoff checks revealed no anomalies. However, just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through about 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot made about a 90-degree right turn to avoid obstacles located off the end of the runway and landed in an adjacent field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination, including an engine run in a test cell, revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane’s engine or systems.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Relocate training areas to allow for straight ahead emergency landings.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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