Aviation Accident Summary CEN09CA342

Decatur, TX, USA

Aircraft #1

N8636Q

BEECH S35

Analysis

An annual inspection had just been completed on the airplane and it was flown to the owner's location by a pilot mechanic. The owner pilot entered the airplane with the engines running and took control of the airplane from the pilot mechanic. The owner pilot then performed a takeoff on a wet, grass runway. The pilot stated that the airspeed indicator stopped increasing at about 60 knots indicated airspeed, so he aborted the takeoff; during which, the airplane slid on the runway approximately 1,200 feet before the pilot attempted a right turn onto a taxi-way. During the turn the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid into trees located near the taxiway, damaging the left aileron. Examination of the airplane revealed dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube. The pilot mechanic stated that he performed a preflight, but did not inspect the pitot tube.

Factual Information

An annual inspection had just been completed on the airplane and it was flown to the owner's location by a pilot-mechanic. The owner-pilot entered the airplane with the engines running and took control of the airplane from the pilot-mechanic. The owner-pilot then performed a takeoff on a wet, grass runway. The owner-pilot stated the airspeed stopped increasing at about 60 knots indicated airspeed, so he aborted the takeoff. During the abort, the airplane slid on the runway approximately 1,200 feet before the owner-pilot attempted a right turn onto a taxiway. During the turn, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid into trees located near the taxiway, damaging the left aileron. Examination of the airplane revealed dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube. The pilot-mechanic stated he performed a preflight inspection, but he did not inspect the pitot tube.

Probable Cause and Findings

Both pilots' inadequate preflight inspection and failure to identify the presence of dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube, and the owner-pilot's attempt to turn off the runway and onto the taxiway at an excessive speed during the aborted takeoff.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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