# NTSB CEN09CA080: Beech E35, N3213C, Bloomington, IN, November 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 20, 2008, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IN - Coordinates: 39.14611, -86.616668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1461&lon=-86.6167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 28, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69531/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA080 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the number one cylinder exhaust valve, and the associated secondary damage to the intake valve and piston. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the engine began to run rough during cruise flight at 6,000 feet mean sea level. He noted that the takeoff and climb were uneventful, and that the personal instrument-flight-rules flight had proceeded normally to that point. He advised air traffic control of the situation and elected to divert to an intermediate airport located approximately 10 miles west of his present position. The pilot increased the mixture, switched fuel tanks, and applied carburetor heat in an attempt to address the rough running engine; however, those efforts were not successful. The number one cylinder temperature had dropped and the engine oil pressure subsequently went to zero. He notified the controller that he would be unable to make it to the runway and set up for a forced landing in a pasture about 3.5 miles east of the airport. The terrain consisted of rolling hills. After touchdown, he was unable to stop the airplane before the aircraft impacted a fence or trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edges of both wings. A postaccident inspection revealed that the number one cylinder exhaust valve had failed at the base of the valve stem. The intake valve and piston sustained mechanical damage as a result. The secondary mechanical damage precluded a metallurgical examination of the fracture surface of the exhaust valve stem. The engine had accumulated about 1,130 hours since overhaul and the airplane had accumulated about 26 hours of flight time since the most recent annual inspection, which was completed approximately one month prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the engine began to run rough during cruise flight at 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl). He noted that the takeoff and climb were uneventful, and the personal instrument flight rules (IFR) flight had proceeded normally to that point. He advised air traffic control of the situation and elected to divert to an intermediate airport located approximately 10 miles west of his present position. The pilot increased the mixture, switched fuel tanks, and applied carburetor heat in an attempt to address the rough running engine; however, those efforts were not successful. The #1 cylinder temperature had dropped and the engine oil pressure subsequently went to zero. He notified the controller that he would be unable to make it to the runway and set up for a forced landing in a pasture about 3.5 miles east of the airport. The terrain consisted of rolling hills. After touch down, he was unable to stop the airplane before it impacted a fence and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edges of both wings. A post accident inspection revealed that the #1 cylinder exhaust valve had failed at the base of the valve stem. The intake valve and piston sustained mechanical damage as a result. The secondary mechanical damage precluded a metallurgical examination of the fracture surface of the exhaust valve stem. The Continental E225-8 engine that powered the airplane had accumulated about 1,130 hours since overhaul. The airplane had accumulated about 26 hours flight time since the most recent annual inspection, which was completed approximately one month prior to the accident. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3213C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3213C-2010-04-08), registration cancelled 2010-04-08, S/N D-3877, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E35 - Registry model: [Beech E35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e35) (registry code 1151512) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-3877 - Airframe hours: 6443 - Engines: CONT MOTOR E225 SERIES 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Six Four Alpha LLC - Registered owner: Six Four Alpha LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2008, 26 hours before - Departed: UMP, Indianapolis, IN - Destination: OWB, Owensboro, KY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BMG, Monroe County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 3,300 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 3,200 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: BMG, 4 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20081120854779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081120854779A), Nov 20, 2008: Beech E35, Bloomington, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was enroute from indianapolis, Indiana "kump" to owensboro, Kentucky kowb when the engine began to run rough and performance became… 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. --- 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.