# NTSB CEN09LA170: Beech B35, N8799A, La Luz, NM, February 21, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 2009, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: La Luz, NM - Coordinates: 32.951946, -105.968887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9519&lon=-105.9689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 73374 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73374/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA170 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a blockage in the right fuel tank vent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Beech B35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech B35, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech B35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech B35, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was receiving an "initial aircraft familiarization" from the designated pilot examiner. As they were returning to the airport, the engine lost power and the examiner noticed that the fuel pressure had dropped. The electric boost pump was switched on, and the examiner directed the pilot to start pumping the warbler pump. Fuel pressure rose slightly to 2.5 pounds per square inch and the engine restarted and ran for about 20 seconds. Gliding towards an open field, the examiner lowered the landing gear and raised the nose to clear some power lines. He felt "a snag" on the left main gear "which diverted our flight path slightly to the left." The airplane touched down and, during the landing roll, it struck a dirt berm that collapsed the nose gear and spun the airplane around. The right wing was bent and the left wing sustained spar damage when it struck mesquite bushes. The airplane was later examined by the pilot's mechanic. In an e-mail to the pilot, the mechanic reported finding "what appeared to be a dirt doppler nest in the right fuel tank vent," causing a vacuum and preventing fuel from flowing. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 2009, at 1030 mountain standard time, a Beech B35, N8799A, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck power lines and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of power while maneuvering near La Luz, New Mexico, about 1 one mile north of Alamogordo. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and designated pilot examiner on board the airplane were not injured. The local flight originated from Alamogordo approximately 1005. The pilot was receiving an "initial aircraft familiarization" from the designated pilot examiner. As they were returning to the airport, the engine lost power and the examiner noticed the fuel pressure had dropped. The electric boost pump was switched on, and the examiner directed the pilot to start pumping the warbler pump. Fuel pressure rose slightly to 2.5 psi (pounds per square inch) and the engine restarted and ran for about 20 seconds. Gliding towards an open field, the examiner lowered the landing gear and raised the nose to clear some power lines. He felt "a snag" on the left main gear "which diverted our flight path slightly to the left. The airplane touched down and during the landing roll, it struck a dirt berm that collapsed the nose gear and spun it around. The right wing was bent and the left wing sustained spar damage when it struck mesquite bushes. FAA's Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in Albuquerque dispatched an inspector to the scene. In his report, he noted the fuel system was intact, the right wing tank contained enough fuel that the fuel cap could not be removed, and the left main tank contained approximately 1 gallon of fuel. The fuel selector valve/wobble pump was on the left main tank. When the wobble pump was activated, no fuel could be pumped to the engine-driven pump but when the selector was moved to the right tank position, fuel was supplied to the engine-driven pump. The inspector noted several other discrepancies with the airplane. His full report is attached as an exhibit to this report. The airplane was examined by the pilot's mechanic. He reported finding "what appeared to be a dirt doppler nest in the right fuel tank vent," causing a vacuum and preventing fuel from flowing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8799A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8799A-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N D-2221, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B35 - Registry model: [Beech B35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b35) (registry code 1151506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2221 - Airframe hours: 5079 - Engines: Continental E-225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sale Reported - Registered owner: Sale Reported - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2009, 1 hours before - Departed: ALM, Alamogordo, NM - Destination: ALM, Alamogordo, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 13, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 6,050 total, 32 in this make and model - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 26, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: ALM, 1 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 20090221002109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090221002109A), Feb 21, 2009: Beech B35, Alamogordo, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 21, 2009 at 1030 MST, a Beech B-35, N8799A, with the registration pending, struck a power wire and collided with a berm of dirty during an… 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.