# Accident 20180812007539A: Beech A36TC, Sylmar, CA, August 12, 2018 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 12, 2018, 13:47 local time - Place: Sylmar, CA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Descent - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.2956° N, 118.4692° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2956&lon=-118.4692&mi=10 - Aircraft: N136RM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N136RM-2018-11-30) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech A36TC (registry code 1151603, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 506 total, 84 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA219) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180812007539A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON AUGUST 13, 2018, AT 1347 PDT, N136RM, A BEECH B-36, CRASHED INTO AN OPEN FIELD, SE OF THE ROXFORD EXIT ON THE 405 FREEWAY. THE DEBRIS PATH WAS ABOUT 107 FT LONG. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST MOSTLY WHOLE AND UPRIGHT. THE ENGINE AND FWD FUSELAGE WERE FRACTURE SEPARATED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SOME OF THE LT SIDE FUSELAGE. THE ENGINE CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN, AND TO THE LT OF THE CABIN AREA. THE THREE-BLADED PROPELLER WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB, ALL THREE BLADES WERE BENT AFT. ONE BLADE EXHIBITED CHORD-WISE PAINT BURNISHING. THE LT WING WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED, AND COVERED IN DIRT CONSISTENT WITH THAT FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE WING WAS BENT AFT AT THE ROOT AND FRACTURED MID-SPAN. THE OUTBOARD SECTION WAS BENT AFT UNDERNEATH THE INBOARD SECTION, AND CAME TO REST WITH THE LEADING EDGE FACING AFT. THE LT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS BREACHED, AND THE LT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS FRACTURE SEPARATED. THE LT AILERON WAS FRACTURE SEPARATED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE INBOARD ABOUT ONE FOOT WHICH WAS STILL SECURED TO THE LT WING. THE LT TIP TANK REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE WING AND THE OUTER FIBERGLASS WAS DAMAGED AND SEPARATED, HOWEVER, THE TANK ITSELF WAS PRESENT AND MOSTLY UNDAMAGED. THE LT SIDE FUSELAGE WAS INTACT, ALTHOUGH EXHIBITED INBOARD CRUSHING AT THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE WING. THE EMPENNAGE WAS INTACT AND MOSTLY UNDAMAGED. THE RT SIDE AFT FUSELAGE WAS INTACT AND MOSTLY UNDAMAGED. THE RT WING WAS MOSTLY WHOLE; HOWEVER, THE REAR SPAR WAS FRACTURED AT THE ROOT AND THE FWD PORTION OF THE WING WAS BENT DOWNWARD. THE RT MAIN LANDING GEAR REMAINED ATTACHED AND WAS FOUND IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. THE FWD PORTION OF THE RT WING TIP TANK WAS CRUSHED INBOARD. THE CABIN AREA EXHIBITED HEAVY CRUSH DAMAGE AT THE FWD SEATS AND FLOOR BOARD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FRACTURE SEPARATED FROM THE RT SIDE FOR THE FUSELAGE AND EXHIBITED CRUSH DAMAGE IN THE CENTER. CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THE AIRFRAME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CABIN AREA DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE. THE LT WING MAIN FUEL TANK WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. THE FUEL CAP WAS STILL SECURED IN PLACE. WHEN THE LT WING WAS MOVED FOR RECOVERY PURPOSES, AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF FUEL WAS OBSERVED EXITING THE TANK. THE RT WING MAIN FUEL TANK REMAINED INTACT. THE FUEL CAP WAS STILL SECURED IN PLACE. THE RECOVERY COMPANY REMOVED AT LEAST 12 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM THE TANK. THE LT WINGTIP TANK WAS INTACT AND NO FUEL WAS OBSERVED. THE LT AUX FUEL TANK GAUGE WAS DESTROYED. THE RT WINGTIP TANK WAS INTACT AND NO FUEL WAS OBSERVED. THE RT AUX FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY FOUR OF THE SIX CABIN SEATS WERE OBSERVED WITHIN THE AIRPLANE AND THEY REMAINED SECURED IN PLACE. THE LT SEAT SEATBELT WAS FOUND DRAPED ACROSS THE SEAT AND WAS UNLATCHED. THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS FOUND SECURED TO THE LAP BELT. ENGINE CAME TO REST INVERTED WITH THE ODD-SIDE CYLINDERS LYING LOW, COVERED IN DIRT AND GRASS CONSISTENT WITH THAT FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE INTAKE FILTER REMAINED IN THE BRACKET AND THE INTAKE AIR BOX WAS DEFORMED AND FLATTENED. THE INLET TO THE TURBOCHARGER IMPELLER WAS CLEAR AND THE IMPELLER ROTATED FREELY. THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE CONTROL LEVER AND THE LEVER REMAINED WITH THE SHAFT; HOWEVER, THE MIXTURE LEVER WAS BENT. THE THROTTLE CABLE REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE LEVER. THE THROTTLE LEVER WAS FRACTURED AND EXHIBITED DEFORMATION. THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS MANIPULATED BY HAND AND CORRESPONDING MOTION WAS OBSERVED AT THE THROTTLE SHAFT. THE FUEL METERING UNIT TO THE MANIFOLD VALVE FITTING WAS OBSERVED FRACTURE SEPARATED AT THE METERING UNIT CONSISTENT WITH IMPACT DAMAGE. ## 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 WPR18FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA219), Aug 12, 2018: Beech A36TC (N136RM), Sylmar, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control following a total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Other reports on N136RM (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19930709023009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930709023009I), Jul 9, 1993: Beech A36TC (N136RM), Hawley, MN, Minor damage. Engine quit while switching fuel tanks. Emergency landing in plowed field. Engine restarted on landing. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.