# Accident 20120321005079A: Beech 35-C33, St. George, UT, March 21, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 21, 2012, 09:30 local time
- Place: St. George, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.1028° N, 113.5625° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1028&lon=-113.5625&mi=10
- Aircraft: N866P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N866P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 35-C33 (registry code 1151408, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-c33) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35-C33
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,200 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120321005079A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 21, 2012, ABOUT 0930 MDT, N866P, BEECH 35-C33, LOST ENGINE POWER WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LEAN THE ENGINE MIXTURE FOR CRUISE FLIGHT. PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT GET THE USUAL AND EXPECTED RESULTS WHEN HE PULLED OR PUSHED THE MIXTURE CONTROL KNOB IN AND OUT. THE ENGINE LOST ENOUGH POWER TO NO LONGER SUSTAIN FLIGHT AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING GEAR UP ON A DIRT ROAD RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT/OWNER AND ONE PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. THE PLANE WAS RELOCATED INTACT TO ST. GEORGE THE SAME DAY. INSPECTORS RUCKER AND HUTTON CONDUCTED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON MARCH 27, 2012 AT ST. GEORGE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION FOR FAA FORM 8020-23. ON APRIL 3, 2012, INSPECTOR RUCKER JOINED WAYNE POLLACK FROM NTSB AND ANDREW SWICK FROM CONTINENTAL MOTORS INC. TO CONDUCT A MORE IN DEPTH INVESTIGATION. OUR FINDINGS FOCUSED ON THE FUEL MIXTURE CONTROL UNIT. WE OBSERVED THAT THE LEVER ATTACHED TO THE MIXTURE VALVE SHAFT WAS ROTATING INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE VALVE SHAFT. THIS DISCONNECT WOULD RENDER THE MIXTURE UNCONTROLLABLE AND LEAD TO LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. PHOTOS AND INSPECTOR STATEMENT BEARS MORE DETAILS.

## 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 WPR12LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA147), Mar 21, 2012: Beech 35-C33 (N866P), St. George, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to the loose mixture control arm.

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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