# NTSB CEN10CA517: Beech D35, N3446B, Guymon, OK, September 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2010, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Guymon, OK - Coordinates: 36.685001, -101.507774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6850&lon=-101.5078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77187 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA517 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77187/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77187 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA517 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Beech D35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech D35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech D35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Beech D35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech D35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Beech D35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed on a cross-country flight with 49 gallons of fuel on-board the airplane. About 3 hours later, as he approached his destination airport, the airplane’s engine surged followed by a total loss of power. The pilot suspected that the engine had experienced vapor lock/fuel blockage and attempted to resolve the problem by selecting each of the airplane’s three fuel tanks and affirming that the mixture control was in the full rich position. The airplane continued to descend and the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing at his destination airport. The airplane did not have sufficient altitude and the pilot made a hard landing diagonally across the runway. During the landing, the airplane’s nose gear collapsed and the right wing was substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane on-site and reported that it appeared the underside of the fuselage had blue stains on it akin to the coloration of fuel; he noted that the fuel caps had duct tape on them. The inspector was unable to determine if the airplane’s fuel tanks contained fuel. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported, via the submitted NTSB 6120.1 form, that he departed on a cross-country flight with 49 gallons of fuel on-board the airplane. About 3 hours later as he approached his destination airport, the airplane’s engine "revved up and down, 3 or 4 times” before losing power. Thinking that the engine had a vapor lock/fuel blockage, the pilot attempted to resolve the problem by selecting each of the airplane’s three fuel tanks and affirming that the mixture control was in the full rich position. Without engine power, the pilot elected to conduct a downwind, forced landing at his destination airport; however, with insufficient altitude, the pilot made a hard landing diagonally across the runway. During the landing, the airplane’s nose-gear collapsed and the right wing was substantially damaged. The FAA Inspector, who examined the aircraft on-site, reported that it appeared the aircraft had “blue stains” on the underside of the fuselage and that the fuel caps had duct tape on them. The inspector was unable to determine if the airplane’s fuel tanks contained fuel. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3446B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3446B-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N D-3684, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D35 - Registry model: [Beech D35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (registry code 1151510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-3684 - Airframe hours: 4836 - Engines: CONT MOTOR E185 SERIES 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2009 - Departed: 52F, Roanoke, TX - Destination: GUY, Guymon, OK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GUY, Guymon Municipal Airport, runway 18, 5,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2009; flight hours: 1,388 total, 767 in this make and model, 1,347 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KGUY ## 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 20100901043799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100901043799A), Sep 1, 2010: Beech D35, Guymon, OK, Substantial damage. September 1, 2010 [privacy data omitted] of aircraft N3446B [privacy data omitted] departed out of northwest regional airport (52F) fort worth, Texas and after… ## Other investigations on N3446B (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 CHI66D0395](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66D0395), Oct 29, 1965: Beechcraft D-35 (N3446B), Lake Angelus, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77187. 731 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 536 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Aircraft's bent wing (item 3, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Aircraft%27s%20bent%20wing-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Fuel cap and tape (item 4, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Fuel%20cap%20and%20tape-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Fuel cap without tape (item 5, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Fuel%20cap%20without%20tape-Master.PDF 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.