# NTSB CEN20LA148: Beech 36, N66FN, Cincinnati, OH, April 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 16, 2020, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Cincinnati, OH - Coordinates: 39.210834, -84.459999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2108&lon=-84.4600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Continental Engines, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA148 ## Probable cause A loose fuel inlet fitting on the fuel pump due to improper maintenance, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: replacement](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a descent to his destination, the pilot noticed an "unusual" vibration. After checking the engine analyzer, he noticed that one of the engine cylinders was not producing an exhaust gas temperature (EGT) reading. A few moments later, another cylinder EGT dropped offline, then a third cylinder. Cylinder EGTs continued to drop offline then the engine "quit." The pilot maneuvered the airplane over a populated area and landed on a roadway. Upon landing, the airplane struck obstacles along the roadway and came to rest underneath a concrete overpass. The wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that both the fuel inlet and fuel return line fittings on the fuel pump were loose and could be turned by hand. No adjacent impact damage was noted around the loose fittings. The fuel pump had been removed and replaced 2 days prior to the accident. The loose fuel inlet fitting likely resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2020, about 1145 Eastern standard time, a Beech A36, N66FN, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Cincinnati, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane from Indianapolis, Indiana (UMP), to Cincinnati, Ohio (LUK), where maintenance was to be performed. During the flight, the pilot was performing an altitude leaning schedule to attempt to diagnose high exhaust gas temperature (EGT) readings. Enroute, the pilot performed step-up climbs to 14,000 ft to record power settings. After completing the schedule of tests, the pilot was descending to about 2,500 ft and noticed an "unusual" vibration that he had not experienced before. After checking the engine analyzer, he noticed that one of the engine cylinders was not producing an EGT reading. A few moments later, another cylinder EGT dropped offline, then a third cylinder. Cylinder EGTs continued to drop offline then the engine "quit." The pilot was not able to restart the engine and declared an emergency. The airplane was over a heavily populated area just north of downtown Cincinnati, so the pilot maneuvered the airplane for an emergency landing on a roadway. Upon landing, the left wing struck a wooden post along the edge of the roadway. The nose pitched to the left and the airplane landed hard on the right main landing gear and the nose landing gear, resulting in a landing gear collapse. The airplane then pitched right and struck another wooden post on the opposite side of the roadway with the right wing. The nose of the airplane contacted a concrete bridge abutment and the airplane slid under an overpass. The pilot secured the fuel and master switch and exited the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted. The top spark plugs were removed, and compression was verified to the cylinders. The air intake hoses and clamps were verified secure and tight, and no obstructions were noted. The magnetos were verified to spark at all terminals. The engine controls were checked to be free and had full travel. The mixture control screen was removed and found to be free of debris. The fittings and hoses were checked for security on the mixture control, fuel manifold valve, and fuel pump. Both the fuel inlet and fuel return line fittings on the fuel pump were found to be loose and could be turned by hand. No adjacent impact damage was noted around the loose fittings. According to maintenance records, the fuel pump had been removed and replaced on April 14, 2020, 2 days prior to the accident. According to the engine manufacturer, a loose inlet fitting could result in a loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66FN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66FN-2022-02-16), registration cancelled 2022-02-16, S/N E-2981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 36 (A36) - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2981 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 1204 - Engines: Continental IO-550B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2020, 40 hours before - Departed: UMP, Indianapolis, IN - Destination: LUK, Cincinnatti, OH - Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 7, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,557 total, 318 in this make and model, 1,448 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: LUK, 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 20200416016809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200416016809A), Apr 16, 2020: Beech A36, Cincinnati, OH, Substantial damage. Reviewed by flm njs on 11/02/2020. On Thursday, April 16, 2020, at approximately 1127 EDT, a Beechcraft BE-36A aircraft, registration n-number N66FN, was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101171. 2.9 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN20LA148 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13670912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN20LA148_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record engine examination findings CEN20LA148 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13670781&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Engine%20Examination%20Findings%20CEN20LA148_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records CEN20LA148 (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 812 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13670791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20CEN20LA148_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN20LA148 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13671190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN20LA148-Rel.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.