# NTSB CEN17LA255: Beech A36, N24LF, El Paso, TX, July 4, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2017, 20:06 local (Jul 4, 2017, 02:06 UTC) - Place: El Paso, TX - Coordinates: 31.812221, -106.382774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8122&lon=-106.3828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Continental Motors, Hartzell Propeller, GTA Air Inc - NTSB case key (mKey): 95491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95491/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95491 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA255 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [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-climb to cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); 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 During the initial climb after takeoff for a non-scheduled cargo flight, the engine experienced a partial loss of power and the commercial pilot reversed course to return to the airport. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot landed the airplane in a field, during which it sustained substantial damage. An examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Thermal damage was noted on the lower left side of the engine near the turbocharger. Examination of the turbocharger and housing revealed thermal damage and erosion within the turbocharger housing. Further, the turbocharger had been reconfigured with a different compressor housing and the addition of wear washers. The erosion of the turbocharger housing and induction wye was likely caused by excessive internal turbine temperatures. This erosion would have reduced performance, but likely would not have resulted in the airplane's ability to climb or maintain flight. The reconfiguration of the turbocharger with the wear washers likely would result in the abnormal wear of the bearings and subsequent instability and rub, but would not have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2017, about 2006 mountain daylight time, a single engine Beech A36 airplane, N24LF, lost engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by GTA Air, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight. The non-scheduled domestic cargo flight departed ELP and was en route to Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Dallas, Texas.According to the pilot, he climbed to an altitude of 4,800 ft and the engine lost power. The pilot reversed course towards ELP and intended to land on runway 26R. The glide of the airplane did not reach the runway and the wings and fuselage were substantially damaged during the forced landing to a field. The airplane was equipped with a Continental IO-520-BB87B engine. The engine had been modified with the addition of a Tornado Alley Turbo Whirlwind system under a supplemental type certificate. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed thermal damage concentrated on the lower left side of the engine. The induction tube, forward of the turbocharger compressor, was melted and the remains were found in the cowling below. The induction wye exhibited a hole emanating outward from the turbine wheel. The engine, magnetos, and related systems were otherwise unremarkable. The turbocharger on the accident airplane was not part of the original modification. Examination and disassembly of the Hartzell Engine Technologies turbocharger (SN HSGL00002) revealed that the turbocharger had been reconfigured with a different compressor housing and the addition of wear washers. The turbocharger had originally been sold to the operator on a factory remanufactured engine from Continental Motors in 2015 (TSIO-520-EB5B – SN 1031058). According to the operator, they did not repair or modify the turbocharger, they only loosened and tightened the V-band clamp and loosened and tightened the hot side bolts. Investigators were unable to determine who modified the turbocharger prior to its installation on the accident airplane. Evidence of high temperatures and thermal distress were noted on the turbine housing exhaust flange, the thrust collar, thrust spacer, and back plate. The turbine and compressor wheels exhibited evidence of rub within their housings. The turbine wheel hub exhibited evidence of hard rub with the center housing seal bore area. The turbine housing exhibited red coloring on the internal surfaces, bubbling of the exhaust flange, and spiraling tongue erosion, which according to Hartzell are consistent with high turbine inlet temperatures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24LF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24LF-2018-08-31), registration cancelled 2018-08-31, S/N E-1665, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 (UNDESIGNAT) - 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-1665 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 12899.3 - Engines: T.C.M. IO-520-BB87B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: AAIP, June 9, 2017 - Departed: KELP, El Paso, TX - Destination: KDAL, Dallas, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KELP, El Paso International Airport - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,085.5 total, 206.6 in this make and model, 1,004.2 as pilot in command, 212.6 in the last 90 days, 101.5 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KELP ## 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 20170703008819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170703008819A), Jul 3, 2017: Beech A36, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. On July 3, 2017 at 2110 MDT, a Beechcraft A-36 bonanza registered to gta air inc. landed on a service road next to runway 26R at El Paso International Airport,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95491. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - JPI Data Graphs (item 2, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=JPI%20Data%20Graphs-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.