Beechcraft 76 N6627U

Summary

On 30 December 2016 at about 15:10 local time, a Beechcraft 76 registered N6627U, operated by Crystal Aero Group Inc, was involved in an accident near Dunnellon, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 December 2016 at 15:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Dunnellon, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Marion County (X35)

Coordinates

29.0650, -82.3711

Aircraft

Beechcraft 76

Registration

N6627U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

2

Operator

Crystal Aero Group Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dunnellon → Crystal River

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17LA077

Nobody was injured.

An inadequate 100-hour maintenance inspection that failed to detect and correct loose nuts on a single-drive dual magneto, which led to the subsequent separation of the magneto from the engine during initial climb and the total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and an examiner were conducting a practical examination flight in a multiengine airplane. The pilot stated that, after takeoff and about 100 ft above ground level, he raised the landing gear and heard a "thud"; seconds later, the airplane began an uncommanded turn to the right, consistent with a right engine failure. The examiner took control of the airplane and determined that it lacked the climb performance to clear the obstacles in its path. He then retarded the throttles and landed gear-up in the grass between the runway and hangars on the airport. During the landing, the left wing struck a concrete drain and was substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right engine single-drive dual magneto had separated from the accessory pad and was laying in the engine compartment. Because both magnetos were attached to the engine at a single point, the right engine lost power completely when this event occurred. The two nuts and clamps used to attach the magneto to the mounting studs were missing; the mounting studs appeared undamaged. Given this information, it is likely that the mounting nuts loosened over time, allowing the magneto to separate from the engine. The airplane's most recent 100-hour inspection was performed about 3 weeks (27 flight hours) before the accident. A required item of that inspection was to check studs and nuts for proper torqueing and obvious defects. Had the loose mounting nuts of the magneto been detected and corrected at this time, the magneto likely would not have separated from the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.