# NTSB CEN11LA148: Beech H35, N5537D, Des Moines, IA, December 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 18, 2010, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Des Moines, IA - Coordinates: 41.534168, -93.663055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5342&lon=-93.6631&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: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Des Moines Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 78129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78129/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78129 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA148 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech H35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech H35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech H35, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151520), [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 H35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech H35, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that a few minutes after takeoff the airplane's alternator indicated a discharge condition. He elected to return to the departure airport. On final approach to land, about 100 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The airplane impacted short of the runway, striking an airport security fence. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel strainer and fuel line to the engine contained no fuel. The fuel selector was found in the OFF position. When moved to the main or auxiliary tank positions fuel flowed to the fuel line at the engine. About 2 gallons of fuel remained in the left main tank and about 3 gallons in each auxiliary tank. There was no fuel visible in the right main fuel tank. The unusable fuel for each main tank is 3 gallons, and 0.5 gallon for each auxiliary tank. No other anomalies were found with the airplane's systems. The pilot said that he had departed with the fuel selector set to the left main fuel tank as required by the pilot’s operating handbook. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 2010, about 1510 central standard time, a Beech H35, N5537D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Des Moines, Iowa. The pilot and 2 passengers were not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) about 1450. The pilot reported that a few minutes after takeoff the alternator indicated a discharge condition. He elected to return to the departure airport. On final approach about 100 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The airplane impacted short of the runway striking an airport security fence. A postaccident examination noted that the nose wheel had separated from the airframe. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the forced landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors were unable to observe any fuel in the right main fuel tank. The left main fuel tank contained approximately 1 inch of fuel. The left and right auxiliary fuel tanks each contained about 3 inches of fuel. The fuel strainer and fuel line to the engine contained no fuel. The fuel selector was in the OFF position at the time of the postaccident examination. When FAA inspectors moved the fuel selector to the left main or auxiliary tank positions, fuel flowed to the fuel line at the engine. The pilot informed FAA inspectors that he had departed with the selector set to the left main fuel tank as required by the operating handbook. The pilot noted that he had switched fuel tanks in an attempt restore engine power. The airplane manufacturer stated that the fuel depth measurements corresponded to about 2 gallons of fuel remaining in the left main tank and about 3 gallons in each auxiliary tank. The unusable fuel for each main tank is 3 gallons, and 0.5 gallon for each auxiliary tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5537D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5537D-2013-04-22), registration cancelled 2013-04-22, S/N D-5074, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH H35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-5074 - Airframe hours: 3800 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: DSM, Des Moines, IA - Destination: DSM, Des Moines, IA - Airport: DSM, Des Moines International, runway 23, 9,003 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 550 total, 200 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: DSM, 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 20101218054779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101218054779A), Dec 18, 2010: Beech H35, Des Moines, IA, Substantial damage. The pilot departed Des Moines international airport (dsm) with two passengers. Shortly after takeoff, he reported an alternator issue and asked to return to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78129. 258 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (to FAA) (item 1, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350544&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20(to%20FAA)-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Pilot's Operating Handbook -- Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook%20--%20Excerpts-Redacted.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.