# Accident 19980317007439A: Beech A35, Auburn, CA, March 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 1998, 13:45 local time
- Place: Auburn, CA
- Airport: Auburn Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9193° N, 121.0698° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9193&lon=-121.0698&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8597A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8597A-2013-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A35 (registry code 1151504, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E185 series (registry code 17014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A35
- Reported engine: CONT E1858
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 330 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA119) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980317007439A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE QUIT ON CLIMBOUT. TRIED RETURN. CRASHED HALF MILE SHORT. REPORT SHOWS FUEL DEPLETION OR FUEL CONTAMINATION. (.4) THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER DEPARTURE, AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A 180-DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT, BUT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HAND OPERATED EMERGENCY FUEL PUMP, WHICH WAS PART OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.  THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES SECTION OF THE POH STATES THAT THE EMERGENCY HAND PUMP SHOULD BE USED TO RESTORE FUEL PRESSURE IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP FAILURE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE EMERGENCY HAND FUEL PUMP.  AN ON-SCENE EXAMINATION REVEALED FUEL IN BOTH MAIN TANKS.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN LEAR-ROMEC FUEL PUMP COUPLING FOUND IT HAD SHEARED AND SEPARATED.  INTERNAL EXAMINATION OF THE PUMP REVEALED BLUING OF THE STEEL PUMP VANE TIPS AND GALLING OF THE PUMP LINER.  ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE PUMP AT SOME TIME HAD BEEN OPERATED WITHOUT FUEL, WHICH COOLS THE VANES, AND HAD OVERHEATED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED FUEL PUMP COUPLING REVEALED THAT IT SEPARATED DUE TO DUCTILE TORSIONAL OVERSTRESS AT A DESIGNED LOCATION.  AC CORDING TO RECORDS AVAILABLE, THE PUMP HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 619 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL WITH AN UNKNOWN TOTAL TIME. (-23) ON CLIMBOUT ACFT ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH BEFORE IT QUIT. ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO FIELD AND CRASHED 1/2 MILE WEST OF AUBURN AIRPORT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98FA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA119), Mar 17, 1998: Beech A35 (N8597A), Auburn, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the engine driven fuel pump drive coupling and the pilot's failure to perform the emergency procedure specified in the Pilot Operating Handbook.

## Other reports on N8597A (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19781102023779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781102023779I), Nov 2, 1978: Beech A35 (N8597A), Pleasant Grove, CA, Minor damage. Forced landing after engine quit. Found restricted fuel line.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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