# NTSB CEN09LA014: Beech A36, N703KP, Houston, TX, October 8, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2008, 06:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 32.639183, -97.15052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6392&lon=-97.1505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA014

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to a fracture in the oil filter adapter housing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## 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); cases with it: [Beech A36, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech A36, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While in cruise flight the propeller's rpms unexpectedly increased to approximately 2,900. After an attempt to reduce the rpms via the propeller governor failed, the pilot was successful by reducing the engine throttle. Seconds later the engine began to make a "knocking noise" before complete engine power was lost. The pilot performed a forced landing to a rough field, resulting in a hard landing. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane caught fire and was fully engulfed in flames. An examination of the engine revealed that the oil filter adapter housing contained a fracture that allowed the engine oil to escape, resulting in oil starvation and a subsequent engine seizure. Reportedly this was the first flight since the airplane's annual inspection and the last oil filter change. Due to thermal damage to the oil filter adapter and oil filter, the reason for the fractured oil filter adapter could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On October 8, 2008, about 0645 central daylight time, a single-engine Beech A36 airplane, N703KP, was destroyed following a complete loss of engine power and subsequent force landing near Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 36-nautical mile cross-country flight originated from the Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), near Houston, Texas at 0630, and was destined for the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), in Houston, Texas. According to the pilot, while in cruise fight the propeller's revolutions per minute (RPM) involuntarily increased to approximately 2,900. After an attempt to reduce the RPM's via the propeller governor failed, the pilot was successful by reducing the engine throttle. Seconds later the engine began to make a "knocking noise" before complete engine power was lost. The pilot performed a forced landing to a rough field resulting in a hard touchdown. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane caught fire and was fully engulfed in flames. The airplane wreckage was recovered back to Air Salvage of Dallas (ASOD), Lancaster, Texas, for further examination. An examination of the engine revealed that the oil filter adapter housing contained a fracture that allowed the engine oil to escape. According to the airplane's maintenance records, the airplane's last annual inspection was performed on September 26, 2008. The oil filter was replaced at that time. This was reportedly the first flight since the annual inspection. Due to thermal damage to the oil filter adapter and oil filter, the reason for the fractured oil filter adapter could not be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N703KP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N703KP-2010-01-25), registration cancelled 2010-01-25, S/N E-1975, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1975
- Airframe hours: 3016
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barker Michael E
- Registered owner: Barker Michael E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 2008
- Departed: LVJ, Pearland, TX
- Destination: DWH, Houston, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,172 total, 117 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVJ, 30 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 20081008851429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081008851429A), Oct 8, 2008: Beech A36, Houston, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On October 8, 2008, at approximately 6:45 a.m. local time, the PIC of N703KP a Beech A36 lost total engine power and landed in a small field in Houston,…

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.

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