# NTSB CEN18LA076: Beech K35, N803R, Longmont, CO, January 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 2018, 16:39 local (23:39 UTC) - Place: Longmont, CO - Coordinates: 40.168888, -105.172775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1689&lon=-105.1728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Aviation, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 96612 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96612/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96612 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA076 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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 K35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151524), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech K35, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech K35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis After returning to the airport from a local orientation flight, the airline transport pilot completed two touch-and-go landings. During the initial climb after the second touch-and-go, the engine began running roughly and then experienced a total loss of power about 300 ft above ground level; the pilot did not notice anything unusual with the instruments. He descended for a forced landing, flared the airplane, and then landed hard in a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, the reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2018, at 1639 mountain standard time, a Beech K35 Bonanza, N803R, experienced a loss of engine power after departure from Vance Brand Airport, (LMO), Longmont, Colorado. The pilot sustained serious injuries, the passenger sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originally departed LMO at 1551. A witness reported that he was near taxiway A3 when heard "a popping noise" coming from the airplane during takeoff. A few seconds later he heard the engine "shut off" as the airplane was in a nose up attitude. The airplane rolled to the right and then descended in a "steep dive" toward the ground. When he arrived at the accident site (figure 1) he observed smoke and smelled fuel near the airplane. He stated that the ground near the airplane was wet and fuel was leaking from the left wing where it had partially separated from the fuselage. Figure 1 – Accident site After the accident the pilot stated that he planned to operate in the local area as an orientation flight for his son. Before the flight he taxied to the local fixed base operator (FBO) and added 21.7 gallons of fuel. He added that for local flights he did not fill the tanks completely; he estimated there were 22 to 24 gallons in the left and right main tanks respectively and 15 gallons in the auxiliary tank. He also estimated that the engine's fuel burn rate would have been about 15 to 16 gallons per hour for the accident flight. Before takeoff the fuel selector was positioned to the left fuel tank. After performing maneuvers in the local area, they returned to LMO with the right fuel tank selected. They entered the traffic pattern and performed one uneventful touch-and-go landing. They flew around the traffic pattern and landed again for a second touch-and-go landing. During the takeoff, with about 500 ft of runway remaining, he retracted the landing gear and continued to climb out. About 3 seconds later the engine began running rough but the instruments did not reveal anything unusual to the pilot. The engine experienced a total loss of power about 300 ft above ground level (agl). He pitched the nose down to maintain airspeed, flared the airplane near the ground, then landed hard in a field. The pilot estimated that at the time of the accident there were 12 gallons of fuel in the left tank, 18 gallons in the right tank, and 15 gallons in the auxiliary tank. After the accident the airplane owner stated that he had never experienced any engine issues in the past. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that fuel was present on the ground and leaking from the airplane. After the accident the fuel selector was positioned to OFF by firstresponders and the original position was unknown. Fuel recovered from the fuel tanks was tested for water using a water detecting paste and no water was detected. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with an engine data monitor (EDM) that recorded the basic engine parameters, which included cylinder head temperatures and exhaust gas temperatures. A review of the EDM data did not reveal any anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N803R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N803R-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N D-6003, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH K35 - Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-6003 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 3633.7 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2017 - Departed: LMO, Longmont, CO - Destination: LMO, Longmont, CO - Airport: LMO, Vance Brand, runway 29, 4,799 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,574 total, 33.2 in this make and model, 2,026 as pilot in command, 204.1 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 4.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KLMO ## 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 20180113000789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180113000789A), Jan 13, 2018: Beech K35, Longmont, CO, Destroyed. On 13 January 2018 a Beechcraft bonanza N803R crashed after take off while performing touch and goes at Longmont Colorado vane brand airport. The pilot who has… ## Other investigations on N803R (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC70F0311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70F0311), Dec 19, 1969: Beech K35 (N803R), St Paul, MN, substantial damage ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96612. 17.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Engine Data Monitor - Factual Report (item 3, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Engine Data Monitor - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data (item 4, .CSV, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473561&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Attachment%201%20-%20Tabular%20Data-Master.csv - Engine Data Monitor - Attachment 2 - Graphs (item 5, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Attachment%202%20-%20Graphs-Master.PDF - Fuel Information (item 6, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Information-Master.PDF - Correspondence - Owner (item 7, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20Owner-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 8, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records - Annual Inspection (item 9, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-%20Annual%20Inspection-Master.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Continental Motors Engine Examination (item 10, .PDF, 11.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation%20-%20Continental%20Motors%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Photos (item 11, .PDF, 3 photos, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 12, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 13, .PDF, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form (item 14, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-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.