# NTSB CEN18LA354: Beech 35, N666WW, Bowman, ND, August 26, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2018, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Bowman, ND - Coordinates: 46.165279, -103.300834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1653&lon=-103.3008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98173 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98173/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98173 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA354 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35-B33, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151406), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Beech 35-B33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 35-B33, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151406), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech 35-B33, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151406), [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 35-B33, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151406), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Beech 35-B33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot and the passenger departed on a cross-country personal flight; the pilot indicated that, shortly after takeoff, the engine started "sputtering" and then lost power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power to no avail and performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing spars. A postaccident examination of the airframe, fuel system, and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Although both main fuel tanks were full, further examination revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel lines, fuel, pump, or engine forward of the airplane firewall and fuel selector. Thus, it is likely that the fuel selector valve was not secured in the detent properly, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2018, about 1150 mountain daylight time, a Beech 35 airplane, N666WW, lost engine power shortly after takeoff from the Bowman Regional Airport (KBWW), Bowman, North Dakota. The commercial pilot sustained serious injury and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight.According to the pilot, the cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Dickinson-Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (KDIK), Dickinson, North Dakota. Shortly after takeoff, about 400 ft agl, the engine started "sputtering" and lost power. The pilot turned on the fuel pump and attempted to restore engine power without success. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, both main landing gear were pushed up through the wings and both wing spars were substantially damaged. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, both main fuel tanks were full of fuel. Further examination revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel lines, fuel, pump, or engine, forward of the airplane firewall and fuel selector. The fuel selector valve was found in the "OFF" position. An examination of the airplane, fuel system, and engine, conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA, revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N666WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N666WW-2020-10-10), registration cancelled 2020-10-10, S/N CD-572, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 (B33) - Registry model: [Beech 35-B33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-b33) (registry code 1151406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD-572 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 9480.2 - Engines: Continental IO-470-K 225 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2018 - Departed: KBWW, Bowman, ND - Destination: DIK, Dickinson, ND - Airport: KBWW, Bowman - 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 65; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 26, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,597 total, 83 in this make and model, 1,597 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: KHEI, 28 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 20180826012359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180826012359A), Aug 26, 2018: Beech 35-B33, Bowman, ND, Substantial damage. The pilot and his father flew to Bowman, ND for church service from dickenson, ND, on the morning of 8/26/18. The pilot reported that he topped off the main… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98173. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.