# NTSB CEN18LA246: Cessna 337, N107BL, Baldwin City, KS, June 30, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2018, 11:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Baldwin City, KS - Coordinates: 38.836112, -95.181945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8361&lon=-95.1819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 97650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97650/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97650 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA246 ## Probable cause The loss of hydraulic accumulator pressure for reasons that could not be determined, which prevented the propeller from unfeathering, and the pilot's improper decision to attempt a go-around, which resulted in an off-airport landing and the airplane impacting trees and a fence. Contributing to the accident was the loss of tension at the flap switch pivot, which prevented it from holding position. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Flight control system: tE flap control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Engine shutdown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a local flight to practice single-engine maneuvers. After taking off and climbing the airplane to 3,500 ft, he shut down the rear engine and feathered the propeller. After performing some turns and climbs, the pilot attempted to unfeather the propeller and restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He returned to the airport to set up for a single-engine approach. During the approach, the pilot realized that the flaps were no longer in the full-flap setting and that a landing on the grass runway was going to be close, so he chose to perform a go-around. However, as the pilot began to go around, he realized that the airplane could not maintain altitude. He maneuvered the airplane for an off-airport landing to a nearby field, during which the airplane struck small trees and a fence and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The rear engine propeller had a remote hydraulic accumulator that assisted in unfeathering the propeller and was normally serviced to 120 pounds per square inch (psi). During an annual inspection that took place 4 flight hours before the accident flight, it was noted that the pressure was slightly low. During postaccident examination, the accumulator pressure was 85 psi. It is likely that a nitrogen leak occurred between the time the accumulator was last serviced and the time of the accident; however, the reason for the nitrogen leak could not be determined. Further, the flap switch was not holding position due to a loss of tension at the flap switch pivot, which is likely why the flaps were not in the full-flap setting as reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative ***This report was modified on November 7, 2019. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** On June 30, 2018, about 1155 central daylight time, a Cessna 337F, N107BL, a multiengine centerline thrust airplane, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and a fence during a forced landing about one mile southeast of Vinland Valley Aerodrome (K64), Baldwin City, Kansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Vinland Aerodrome, Baldwin City, Kansas, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight. According to the pilot, who is also an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic, he took off and climbed to 3,500 ft to practice single-engine operations. He shut down the rear engine and feathered the propeller. After doing some air work, the pilot attempted to unfeather the propeller and restart the rear engine but was unsuccessful. He returned to the airport and made a single-engine landing approach. During the approach, the pilot noticed [he had lost his] full flap down setting and determined a full stop landing on the grass runway was going to be close. He reduced flaps to 10°. The flap setting "relaxed" and the pilot determined there was insufficient altitude available to retract the landing gear. The pilot maneuvered to avoid houses and made a forced landing in a crosswind. Full power and full flaps were used until touchdown. The airplane struck small trees, shrubs, and a fence. The left wing was bent and the fuselage was buckled. The rear engine propeller has a remote hydraulic accumulator that assists in unfeathering the propeller and is serviced to 120 psi. During annual inspection 4 hours prior to the accident flight, it was found to be slightly low. Post-accident examination revealed the pressure to be 85 psi. It is most likely a nitrogen leakage had developed during those 4 hours. The flap switch was not holding position; the reason for this anomaly could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N107BL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N107BL), registered now, S/N 33701330, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 337 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 337F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337f) (registry code 2075725) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33701330 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 2918 - Engines: Continental IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2018, 4 hours before - Departed: K64, Baldwin City, KS - Destination: K64, Baldwin City, KS - Airport: K64, Vinland Valley Aerodrome, runway 16, 3,030 × 80 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 8, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,691 total, 47 in this make and model, 8,627 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: LWC, 11 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 20180630008939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180630008939A), Jun 30, 2018: Cessna 337F, Baldwin City, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot shut down the rear engine and feathered the prop as part of exploring the single engine charecteristics of his aircraft. He then flew turns and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97650. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 971 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - E-mail from Pilot Dave McFarlane (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-mail%20from%20Pilot%20Dave%20McFarlane-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.