# NTSB CEN14LA253: Beech A36, N188DP, Rockdale, TX, May 26, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2014, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Rockdale, TX - Coordinates: 30.650928, -96.999221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6509&lon=-96.9992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 89282 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89282/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89282 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA253 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident testing revealed no anomalies. ## 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 A36, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151604), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [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 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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, about 20 minutes into the flight, the engine sound abruptly changed, and the engine began to lose power. The pilot's attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. An air traffic controller gave the pilot radar vectors to the nearest airport; however, the airplane was unable to glide to the runway, so the pilot made a forced landing on uneven terrain. The right main landing gear did not extend fully before touchdown, and the airplane ground looped, which resulted in the fuselage buckling and the outboard portion of the right wing being torn off. The engine was test run at all power settings, and no anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2014, about 1840 central daylight time, a Beech A36, N188DP, was substantially damaged when the engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing on a road near Rockdale, Texas. The pilot and three passengers on board were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Pilots Choice Aviation, Inc., Georgetown Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Huntsville Municipal Airport (KUTS), Huntsville, Texas, at 1825, and was en route to Georgetown Municipal Airport (KGTU), Georgetown, Texas.According to the pilot's statements, both main fuel tanks were filled to capacity, but the auxiliary tanks were not serviced. The first leg of the flight from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Huntsville, Texas, was uneventful. The pilot elected to go to Huntsville due to the weather conditions in the Austin, Texas, area. After spending several hours at Huntsville, the pilot and his family departed for Georgetown. About 20 minutes into the flight, the engine made "an abrupt change in sound" and the engine began to lose power. All cylinder EGTs (exhaust gas temperature) were above 1500 degrees Celsius (C.) Switching from the right tank to the left tank did not restore power, so the pilot returned the selector to the right tank. The pilot advanced the mixture, throttle, and propeller control full forward and noticed the cylinder EGTs were registering 200 degrees. He advised air traffic control that his engine was losing power and was given radar vectors to the H.H. Coffield Regional Airport (KRCK), about 4 miles southwest of the flight's position. The pilot subsequently declared an emergency. Unable to glide to the runway, the pilot made a forced landing on uneven terrain near County Road 322. The right main landing gear did not extend fully prior to touch down and the airplane ground looped. The fuselage was buckled and the outboard portion of the right wing was torn off. Under the auspices of the National Transportation Safety Board, the engine was functionally tested at Air Salvage of Dallas in Lancaster, Texas, on July 21. The engine tested satisfactory at all power settings and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N188DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N188DP-2015-03-03), registration cancelled 2015-03-03, S/N E-1476 (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-1476 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 5360 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BB87 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilots Choice Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Pilots Choice Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2014 - Departed: KUTS, Huntsville, TX - Destination: KGTU, Georgetown, TX - Airport: KRCK, H.H. Coffield Regional - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 24, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 513 total, 139 in this make and model, 436 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: GTU, 41 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 20140526009779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140526009779A), May 26, 2014: Beech A36, Rockdale, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed cruise flight with loss of power and diverted to rck Rockdale, TX (rck). In visual flight conditions pilot made an off-airport landing due to… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89282. 9.9 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120, Operator’s Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120,%20Operator%E2%80%99s%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Form 6120, Pilot’s Accident Report (item 2, .PDF, 440 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120,%20Pilot%E2%80%99s%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pilot’s Statement (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423262&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%E2%80%99s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Additional Information from Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423263&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20Information%20from%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Continental Motors Engine Field Run Report (item 5, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423264&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Continental%20Motors%20Engine%20Field%20Run%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Run Sheet (item 6, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423265&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Run%20Sheet-Redacted.PDF - E-Mail from William Tuccio (item 7, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20William%20Tuccio%0D%0A%0D%0A-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 8, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – N188DP at the accident site and tire tracks. Note severed left tip tank (item 9, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20N188DP%20at%20the%20accident%20site%20and%20tire%20tracks.%20Note%20severed%20left%20tip%20tank-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Propeller Blade (item 10, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Propeller%20Blade-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – Fuel Selector (item 11, .PDF, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Fuel%20Selector-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.