# NTSB CEN18LA340: Beech B36TC, N6860W, LaPorte, TX, August 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2018, 06:20 local (11:20 UTC) - Place: LaPorte, TX - Coordinates: 29.6725, -95.069725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6725&lon=-95.0697&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 2018-06-11](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2018-06-11) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 98102 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA340 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98102/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98102 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA340 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a torn intercooler hose that resulted in an overly rich fuel mixture, which, when combined with the pilot's activation of the auxiliary fuel pump, flooded the engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel oil cooler](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057311): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B36TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057311/cases.md?model=1151609), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057311/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B36TC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151609), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech B36TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1151609), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 B36TC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151609), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Beech B36TC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1151609), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a local flight. He said that during the initial climb, the engine began to make a "weird very loud sound" and that the engine started to lose power. He stated that the "engine noise started to get louder and power was almost gone." When he activated the auxiliary fuel pump, the engine noise became "real loud" and sounded "very deep." The airplane was descending, and the student pilot performed a forced landing near a housing development. During the landing, the right wing separated and the airplane's cabin collapsed inward. Although a Federal Aviation Administration inspector expressed concerns about the exhaust pipe v-band clamp, the nature of those concerns were not conveyed to the NTSB. The airplane's engine was removed and later examined and test run at the manufacturer. During a postaccident examination, the v-band clamp was found to be loose and could have allowed manual rotation of the turbo outlet collar. However, it could not be determined what effect this may have had on the accident. The examination also revealed that the induction hoses to and from the intercooler were both torn. If the induction hose to the intercooler failed in flight, manifold pressure would have dropped immediately, and the noise the pilot heard could have been turbo discharge pressure escaping through the tear in the hose. When the engine lost turbo pressure, the fuel pump would have continued to operate with a much richer mixture because it would not have sensed a loss of induction pressure. When the pilot turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, the engine would have been flooded with excess fuel. Thus, it is likely that the torn induction hose combined with the excess fuel from activation of the fuel pump led to the engine being flooded resulting in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2018, at 0620 central daylight time, a Beech B36TC single-engine airplane, N6860W, was destroyed when the engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing in a wooded area 1/4-mile southeast of La Porte Municipal Airport (T41), La Porte, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by RD Airways, Channelview, Texas, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for local flight. The flight was originating from T41 at the time of the accident.The pilot reported that after taking off and starting a climb, the airplane began to make a "weird very loud sound and the engine started to lose power." The pilot verified the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were full forward. The engine noise "started to get louder and power was almost gone." When the pilot activated the auxiliary fuel pump, the engine "just got real loud [and] sounded very deep. I knew I was descending." The airplane continued to descend, and the pilot made a forced landing near a housing development on unsuitable terrain. Both wings were separated from the airplane. The pilot was not injured. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane, and reported "the exhaust section looks like it had been having some issues for a while. Also disturbing is the v-band clamp condition." He also stated an Airworthiness Directive (A.D. 2018-06-11) had been issued in June 2018. That AD added a life limit to the exhaust tailpipe v-band clamp that attaches the exhaust tailpipe to the turbocharger and requires an annual visual inspection of the exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling (clamp). The engine was sent to Continental Motors, Mobile, Alabama, where, on March 13, 2019, it was functionally tested under the oversight of an FAA inspector. The engine performed with no anomalies. According to Continental Motors, the v-band may have been loose enough to allow manual rotation of the turbo outlet collar. A hose used to connect the aftermarket intercooler was oil-soaked and did not appear to be freshly torn. If the hose failed in flight, manifold pressure would have immediately dropped and the "weird" sound could have been turbo discharge pressure escaping through the tear. When the engine lost turbo pressure, the fuel pump would have continued to operate with a much richer mixture, not sensing the loss of induction pressure to the engine. When the pilot turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, the engine would have been further flooded with excess fuel pressure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6860W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6860W-2019-11-29), registration cancelled 2019-11-29, S/N EA-411, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B36TC - Registry model: [Beech B36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b36tc) (registry code 1151609) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: EA-411 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 3103 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520UB12B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2018 - Departed: T41, La Porte, TX - Destination: T41, La Porte, TX - Airport: T41, La Porte Municipal, runway 12, 4,165 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 63 total, 20 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EFD, 7 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 20180820021149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180820021149A), Aug 20, 2018: Beech B36TC, La Porte, TX, Substantial damage. After takeoff at 300 feet altitude the engine lost power. Pilot attempted to recover by starting electric fuel pump but engine would not regain power. Aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98102. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Engine Run Report (item 2, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473649&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Run%20Report-Master.PDF - Airworthiness Directive A.D.2018-06-11 (item 3, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473650&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airworthiness%20Directive%20A.D.2018-06-11-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.