# NTSB CEN21LA176: Beech B35, N5240C, Pearland, TX, April 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 3, 2021, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX · School play yard - Coordinates: 29.555789, -95.327993 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5558&lon=-95.3280&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102858 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102858/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102858 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA176 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to a crack in the No. 1 cylinder for unknown reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151506), [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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech B35, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151506), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff he noted a difference in the sound of the engine and that the engine speed started to decrease. The airplane was unable to climb above obstacles along the flight path, and the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing. During the forced landing the right wing struck a tree, and the airplane came to rest in a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident engine examination revealed a crack between the No. 1cylinder head and bore. The engine likely lost power due to this crack; however, the origin of the crack was not identified. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2021, about 0730 central daylight time, a Beech B35 airplane, N5240C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pearland, Texas. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he conducted a thorough preflight and runup with no anomalies noted. The pilot performed a short-field takeoff from a grass runway and lowered the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed while in ground effect. The pilot reported that there was a difference in the engine sound, and the engine did not have the power it normally had. The engine speed was at “2,100 rpm and dropping.” The pilot was unable to climb the airplane above the powerlines in his flight path and he decided to fly under them. While maneuvering the airplane to land in a field, the right wing struck a tree, separating the wing from the fuselage. The pilot landed the airplane on its belly, and it skidded across the grass before it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he purchased the airplane in October 2020 and that the airplane had undergone extensive maintenance to troubleshoot excessive engine rpm issues. The pilot noted that the airplane flew uneventfully for the first time on the day before the accident. A mechanic had examined the airplane just before the accident flight and found no anomalies. An examination of the engine after the accident revealed a crack between the No. 1 cylinder head and bore. According to the maintenance records, on October 1, 2016, all 6 cylinders were removed and replaced with serviceable cylinders and new piston rings. The cylinders had 324.3 hours since overhaul at the time of installation. It is estimated the cylinders accumulated about 60 hours between the time of installation and the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5240C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5240C), registered now, S/N D-2631 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B35 - Registry model: [Beech B35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b35) (registry code 1151506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2631 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 5158.6 - Engines: Continental Motors E-185-11 211 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2020, 33.5 hours before - Departed: T79, Pearland, TX - Destination: SKF, San Antonio, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: T79, Skyway Manor, runway 17, 2,525 × 70 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,593 total, 51 in this make and model, 1,395 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: LVJ, 5 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 20210403005819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210403005819A), Apr 3, 2021: Beech B35, Pearland, TX, Destroyed. On April 3rd at 735AM, N5240C departed T79 in an easterly direction. T79 is located in Pearland Texas. The airport has an east/west grass runway with 50 feet… ## Other investigations on N5240C (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 CHI73FEM38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEM38), Jan 20, 1973: Beech B35 (N5240C), Grand Rapids, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102858. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13063455&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15710469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20PILOT-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16013840&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21LA176-Engine%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Airframe maintenance records excerpts (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16010500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine maintenance records excerpts (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16010290&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Propeller maintenance records excerpts (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16062551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Propeller%20Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 586 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16013227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.