Beech B24R N53EM accident near Lumberton Township, New Jersey

Probable cause

The pilot/owner’s failure to ensure adequate maintenance of the airplane, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The pilot/owner was flying his airplane to another airport to get an annual inspection, after not previously having been inspected for almost 10 years. On takeoff, the airplane did not climb as expected and began to lose altitude with the landing gear still extended. A witness described that the airplane’s engine was “sputtering” and there was a significant drop in rpm. The airplane did not climb, encountered an aerodynamic stall, and impacted a field beyond the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage.

Postaccident examination of the engine revealed low compression on the No. 2 cylinder. The cylinder also displayed carbon build-up around the intake valve, and the valve was not sealing and appeared to be cracked. Based on the available information, this likely resulted a partial loss of engine power during the takeoff and the engine sounds heard by the witness. Had the airplane undergone the required annual inspection before the flight, it is likely that the deficient condition of the cylinder would have been detected and corrected, thus preventing the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA190 for the full record.