# NTSB CEN12LA074: Beech S35, N5858S, Elkhart Lake, WI, November 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 2011, 10:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Elkhart Lake, WI - Coordinates: 43.769721, -87.851669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7697&lon=-87.8517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82362 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82362/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82362 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA074 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech S35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech S35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech S35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech S35, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Beech S35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech S35, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed for the planned 1 hour, 40 minute flight with 58 total gallons of fuel. While in cruise flight at 2,500 feet mean sea level, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot noticed no anomalies prior to the loss of engine power. After switching fuel tanks and several unsuccessful engine restart attempts, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. The pilot stated that, at the time of the accident, he estimated that the left and right fuel tanks were about half-full of fuel. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed about 35 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and no fuel in the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was selected to the right tank. The right fuel tank was intact, and the left fuel tank bladder contained a tear, in which the fuel drained until it reached a level below the tear. No fuel was in the fuel lines from the right tank and through the engine fuel system, which was consistent with fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2011, at 1040 central standard time, a Beech S35 single-engine airplane, N5858S, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to N5858S, LLC, Brookfield, Wisconsin, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Sawyer International Airport (SAW), Marquette, Michigan, at 0920, and was destined for Capitol Airport (02C), Brookfield, Wisconsin. According to the pilot, he departed for the planned 1 hour and 40 minute flight with 58 total gallons of fuel. While in cruise flight at 2,500 feet mean sea level, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot noticed no anomalies prior to the loss of engine power. After switching fuel tanks and several unsuccessful engine restart attempts, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees adjacent to the field, and the airplane landed with the landing gear partially extended. The airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident, he estimated the left and right fuel tanks were approximately 1/2 full of fuel. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed the firewall and forward fuselage were bent. After recovery from the field, approximately 35 gallons of fuel was noted in the left fuel tank and no fuel was noted in the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the right tank position. The right fuel tank was intact, and the left fuel tank bladder contained a tear, in which the fuel drained until it reached a level below the tear. No fuel was noted in the fuel lines from the right tank and through the engine fuel system. When the fuel selector was turned to the left tank, fuel flowed out of the fuel selector valve. When the fuel selector was turned to the right tank, no fuel was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5858S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5858S-2012-11-05), registration cancelled 2012-11-05, S/N D-7750, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH S35 - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7750 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2011 - Departed: SAW, Marquette, MI - Destination: 02C, Brookfield, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 8, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 3,038 total, 2,143 in this make and model, 2,889 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F ## 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 20111115027199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111115027199A), Nov 15, 2011: Beech S35, Sheboygan, WI, Substantial damage. While enroute from ksaw airport 02C airport, a/c sustained engine failure. Aircraft restart attempts were unsuccessful. Pilot landed aircraft in a farm field… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82362. 365 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.