Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

South Windsor, Connecticut 06074
Thursday, September 7, 2006 13:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While leveling the airplane after a descent from 3,000 feet to 1,500 feet, the pilot increased the throttle to level the airplane; however, engine power did not return, and the airplane continued to descend. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing attempt. Witnesses reported hearing the engine "popping" and "sputtering" as the airplane descended. Following the accident, the engine was removed from the airframe and test run. During the first test run the engine exhibited varying interruptions of power, and when the throttle was increased to full, it reached a maximum rpm of 1,450. Troubleshooting revealed that all six fuel injector lines were loosely attached to the fuel manifold valve. After all of the lines were tightened, the engine ran without any interruption of power, and reached a maximum rpm of 2,644. Examination of maintenance records revealed that significant maintenance had been performed on the engine 7 months, and 246 flight hours, prior to the accident flight. Additionally, four of the six fuel injector nozzles were replaced about 6 months before the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loosening of the fuel injector lines from the fuel manifold valve, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/7/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City South Windsor
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06074
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414820N
Event Location Longitude 0723457W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID HFD
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22192
NTSB Notification Source NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 7 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2007 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Windsor Locks FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3708B
NTSB Number NYC06LA219
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model F33A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CE-928
Certified Max Gross Weight 3754
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 316
Airframe Hours 2229
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Wilfred L. Brown
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Nashua
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code ASH
Departure City Nashua
Departure State NH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HFD
Destination City Hartford
Destination State CT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - normal
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 4 2007 9:52AM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --