Detroit City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Detroit, Michigan 48213
Monday, May 28, 1990 20:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB, PILOT WAS IN RIGHT TURN AT 100 FEET AGL AND 140 MPH WHEN POWER WAS LOST IN THE LEFT ENGINE. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN TO THE LEFT TO RETURN TO THE FIELD AND LOST POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED TANKS IN EACH WING WERE APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF FULL. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER ENGINE FROM ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO FLOW DIVIDER. TURNING TAKEOFFS ARE A PROHIBITED MANEUVER IN THIS AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE UNBAFFLED TANK CONFIGURATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXECUTION OF A TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXECUTION OF A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION OF THE SECOND ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2045
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DETROIT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48213
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DETROIT CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DET
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 626
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2055 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DET
Elevation of weather observation facility 626
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1224
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 28 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2225
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42586
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8390N
NTSB Number CHI90LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model B-55
Aircraft Series Identifier B-55
Aircraft Serial Number TC-1091
Certified Max Gross Weight 5000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 9256
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELITE LEASING CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21870 HOOVER RD.
Aircraft Owner City WARREN
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48089
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DET
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2045
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PTK
Destination City PONTIAC
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 5040
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --