20050512017859A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech C35BEECH · Rancho Santa Fe, CA · May 12, 2005

Date: May 12, 2005 · 16:56 local
Place: Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N709D
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX05LA166
Reported as: Beech C35BEECH
Reported engine: Continental E2258
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 550 total250 in this make and model14 in the last 90 days

N709DRegistration cancelled Mar 23, 2006 · Beech C35S/N D-2981 · Built 1951 Airframe modelBeech C35 Engine modelContinental E185 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During climb after departure from montgomery airport in san diego, CA, the engine quit and the pilot had to make an emergency landing in a pasture. The NTSB investigator stated that the fuel pump drive was worn and did not properly engage with the drive output on the engine, causing a lack of fuel to the engine. A detailed description of the wear was not provided and no examination of the engine drive was indicated. The engine and thompson fuel pump TF-1900 (TAP200) had 148 hours time since overhaul. The aircraft and parts are in the custody of the NTSB outside of the san diego flight standards district and could not be examined to the extent necessary to determine the exact cause of failure. Photos of the fuel pump provided by the NTSB seem to indicate that the male drive on the fuel pump was excessively worn. A service difficulty report was filed with as much information as was available at this time.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING CLIMB AFTER DEPARTURE FROM MONTGOMERY AIRPORT IN SAN DIEGO, CA, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PASTURE. THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP DRIVE WAS WORN AND DID NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WITH THE DRIVE OUTPUT ON THE ENGINE, CAUSING A LACK OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE WEAR WAS NOT PROVIDED AND NO EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DRIVE WAS INDICATED. THE ENGINE AND THOMPSON FUEL PUMP TF-1900 (TAP200) HAD 148 HOURS TIME SINCE OVERHAUL. THE AIRCRAFT AND PARTS ARE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE NTSB OUTSIDE OF THE SAN DIEGO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT AND COULD NOT BE EXAMINED TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF FAILURE. PHOTOS OF THE FUEL PUMP PROVIDED BY THE NTSB SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THE MALE DRIVE ON THE FUEL PUMP WAS EXCESSIVELY WORN. A SERVICE DIFFICULTY REPORT WAS FILED WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WAS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX05LA166Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRancho Santa Fe, CAfailure of the engine driven fuel pump due to the improper overhaul procedure of the fuel pump by an overhaul facility, and the use of parts that did not meet hardness specification.May 12, 2005 · Substantial damage