MONTGOMERY, NY, USA
N5471S
Cessna 337B
The pilot was unable to start the rear engine of the Cessna 337. He then told some people he was going to make a single engine takeoff. The pilot initiated a takeoff with the rear engine not operating and the rear propeller not feathered. The airplane was observed to use all of the 5,000 foot runway to become airborne. After lift-off, the airplane did not climb, and it impacted trees off the departure end of the runway. An FAA inspector reported that there was a placard in the cockpit which stated, 'DO NOT INITITATE SINGLE ENGINE TAKEOFF.' Examination of the airplane revealed the rear propeller was not feathered, and the front propeller had separated from the engine at the crankshaft.
On May 17, 1998, about 1521 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 337B, N5471S, was substantially damaged when it struck trees after departing from the Orange County Airport, Montgomery, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was destined for Oxford, Connecticut. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the Operations Duty Officer at the airport, a man approach him about 1500 and asked for a jump start. The duty officer explained he not have the equipment to do that. The pilot entered his airplane, started the forward engine and again tried to start the rear engine. The prop would hardly move. The pilot then taxied to runway 21, with the front engine running. He then announced over the UNICOM frequency that he was going to try a takeoff with one engine. The pilot used the full length of the runway, and barely cleared the trees at the end of the runway, after which visual contact was lost with the airplane. Several witnesses saw the airplane as it passed through trees, over a house, and flew into more trees. The airplane came to rest upside down. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported: "...I inspected the area and found the front engine prop had broken at the crankshaft...The rear engine prop in the 3 & 9 O'clock position with no damage. The prop was not feathered...All throttles, prop and mixture levers were full forward. The landing gear was down, and the landing gear lever was down. I noticed a placard on the instrument panel that stated, 'DO NOT INITITATE SINGLE ENGINE TAKEOF.' Main fuel tanks appeared to be full." An autopsy was conducted on the pilot, on May 18, 1998, by Dr. Barbara Wolf, for the County Coroner's Office, Orange County, New York. Toxicological testing conducted by the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was negative for drugs and alcohol. According to FAA records, the pilot had over 1,000 hours of flying experience.
the pilot's improper decision to initiate a takeoff with the rear engine inoperative, which resulted in an airplane that could not climb sufficiently to clear obstacles (trees).
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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