# NTSB CEN12LA261: Beech A36, N4830M, Albuquerque, NM, April 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2012, 08:05 local (14:05 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.090736, -106.900825 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0907&lon=-106.9008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83511 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83511/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83511 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA261 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to an intake valve that was stuck in the open position. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 On initial climb, the airplane’s engine lost partial power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and airspeed and performed an off-field landing. An examination of the engine revealed that the intake valve on the No. 1 cylinder was stuck in the open position. No other anomalies with the airframe or engine were noted. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2012, about 0805 mountain daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane, N4830M, conducted a forced landing, following a loss of engine power, near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Gordon Enterprises, Albuquerque, New Mexico, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating from the Double Eagle II Airport (KAEG), Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the time of the accident. According statements provided by the pilot, the accident flight was the airplane’s first flight in several months. The pilot reported that on initial climb, the airplane's acceleration and climb stopped. The engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain flight, the pilot initially attempted to return to the airport, but was unable to make the airport, so he elected to conduct a forced landing approach to a field. An examination of the engine conducted by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the number one cylinder intake valve was partially stuck. No other defects were noted with the engine. No deficiencies were noted with the airframe. A bench test conducted on the airplane’s propeller governor did not detect any defects. A photo of the airplane’s propeller, provided by the FAA, show curling of all three of the propeller blades as well as leading edge polishing on at least two blades. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4830M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4830M-2013-05-21), registration cancelled 2013-05-21, S/N E-1268, built 1978 (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-1268 - Airframe hours: 4312 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-BA-14 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gordon Enterprises Inc - Registered owner: Gordon Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2011, 11 hours before - Departed: KAEG, Alburquerque, NM - Destination: KAEG, Alburquerque, NM - Airport: KAEG, Double Eagle II ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,319 total, 2,219 in this make and model, 2,319 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KAEG, 3 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 20120426008099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120426008099A), Apr 26, 2012: Beech A36, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Pilot (flying) stated that after takeoff during climb-out from runway 22 aeg, at about 300 feet AGL, aircraft enging lost power. Pilot (flying) said it felt as… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83511. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Summary of propeller governor testing (item 2, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Summary%20of%20propeller%20governor%20testing-Master.PDF - Correspondence with FAA inspector (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20inspector-Master.PDF - Correspondence concerning the GEM (item 4, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20concerning%20the%20GEM-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Front view (item 5, .PDF, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Front%20view-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.