N53EMBeech B24R · 1976

On April 22, 2024, at 1715 eastern daylight time, a Beech B24R, N53EM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at the Flying W Airport (N14), Lumberton Township, New Jersey. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot/owner said he was taking his airplane get an annual inspection at another airport. He performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, started the engine, and checked the magnetos before departing. Once the airplane became airborne, it did not climb very well and began to settle back towards the ground with the landing gear still extended.

A witness said the airplane’s engine was “sputtering” as it was trying to climb, and sounded like there was a significant drop in rpm. The witness that the airplane subsequently “stalled” and impacted a field off the end of the runway.

A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the lower fuselage sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed low compression on the No. 2 cylinder. The cylinder was examined with a borescope and carbon build-up was noted. The intake valve was not sealing, and the valve seat appeared to be cracked.

A review of the maintenance records revealed the last annual inspection on the engine was completed on May 14, 2014, at a total time of 1,469.2 hours since overhaul. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued about 16 hours since the last annual inspection.

Per Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.409(a), an aircraft must undergo an annual maintenance inspection every 12 calendar months to be legal to operate. 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D, outlines the scope and detail of items that must be checked during the annual inspection of reciprocating engine aircraft. This regulation is critical for ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft by mandating comprehensive inspections of various systems and components, including the engine.