20101218054779A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech H35 · Des Moines, IA · December 18, 2010

Date: December 18, 2010 · 15:10 local
Place: Des Moines, IA
Airport: Des Moines International Airpo
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5537D
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN11LA148
Reported as: Beech H35
Reported engine: Continental O-470 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 550 total200 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N5537DRegistration cancelled Apr 22, 2013 · Beech H35S/N D-5074 · Built 1957 Airframe modelBeech H35 Engine modelContinental O-470 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.

The pilot departed Des Moines international airport (dsm) with two passengers. Shortly after takeoff, he reported an alternator issue and asked to return to the airport. While on final approach, the engine quit and the aircraft impacted the ground short of the runway, after striking the airport barrier fence. The investigation revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel strainer or the fuel line to the engine.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT DEPARTED DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (DSM) WITH TWO PASSENGERS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE REPORTED AN ALTERNATOR ISSUE AND ASKED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, AFTER STRIKING THE AIRPORT BARRIER FENCE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL STRAINER OR THE FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE.

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 CEN11LA148Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDes Moines, IAA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.Dec 18, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N5537D · 1

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

Incident 19920906041319IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Spokane, WANose gear collapsed on landing rollout. Forward rod end bearing on aft nose landing gear retraction link failed.Sep 6, 1992 · Minor damage