# Accident 20230720018569A: Beech C35, Rock Springs, WY, July 20, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2023, 12:55 local time
- Place: Rock Springs, WY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.6007° N, 109.0512° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6007&lon=-109.0512&mi=10
- Aircraft: N620D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N620D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech C35 (registry code 1151508, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E185 series (registry code 17014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C35
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR E185 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA283) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230720018569A

## Narrative

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

DURING CLIMB, THE PILOT AND

PASSENGER HEARD A “POP SOUND” FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PASSENGER THOUGHT HE SAW SOMETHING

“FLY UP FROM THE ENGINE” AND WAS STUCK ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH THEY DESCRIBED AS FIVE SMALL BLACK

SPECS OF “BLACK GOO.” THE PILOT CHECKED ALL OF THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS AND NOTED THAT THEY WERE ALL IN THE

GREEN. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.  AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SLOWLY LOSE POWER AS THEY CONTINUED TO (RKS), ROCK SPRINGS WY.   THE ENGINE RPM HAD CONTINUED TO DECREASE TO 1,250, AND THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND DECIDED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 27.  AS HE TURNED TO THE EAST, THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING FAST, WHILE HE WAS NORTH OF RUNWAY 27. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CONSIDERED LANDING ON A TAXIWAY, HOWEVER, SAW AN AIRPLANE HOLDING

SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND OPTED TO TURN LEFT FOR AN OFF-FIELD LANDING. THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS TRAVELING

TOWARD POWERLINES AND TRIED TO MANEUVER AROUND THEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED POWERLINES

AND TERRAIN.

## 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 WPR23LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA283), Jul 20, 2023: Beech C35 (N620D), Rock Springs, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the propeller pitch control rod castellated nut hardware, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the pitch control bearing and subsequent loss of…

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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