# NTSB CEN22LA059: Beech A36, N8038Z, Cleveland, TX, December 2, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 2, 2021, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, TX - Coordinates: 30.401525, -95.053575 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4015&lon=-95.0536&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104356/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104356 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA059 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, the reason for which could not be determined. ## 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 · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); 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) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the airplane’s engine lost power suddenly. He noted that he was not in the process of changing or manipulating any controls when the power loss occurred. The pilot reported that the fuel flow to the engine dropped and the engine lost power, which is supported by engine monitor data. The pilot’s attempts to restore fuel flow and restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot realized that he would not be able to reach the airport he had selected and redirected the airplane toward a nearby highway. During the landing flare on the highway, the right-wing tip struck a road sign. The airplane exited the highway and came to rest nose down in a ditch which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. During recovery of the airplane, 22 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right-wing fuel tanks, and 26 gallons were recovered from the left-wing fuel tanks. Postaccident examination of the airplane and an engine test run were performed. The engine ran normally and no reason for the interruption of fuel flow was discovered. Based on the available information, the airplane’s engine lost power due to a fuel flow interruption for reasons that could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 2021, about 1415 central standard time, a Beech A36, N8038Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cleveland, Texas. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while en route at 6,000 ft on an instrument flight rules flight plan the airplane engine suddenly lost power. He reported that he was not in the process of changing or manipulating any controls at the time of the power loss. The pilot elected to fly toward a nearby airport depicted on his GPS receiver. While gliding toward the airport, he attempted to restart the engine several times, but he could not get fuel flow back even with the fuel pump on. He attempted switching fuel tanks during this time and the airplane engine monitor showed no fuel flow despite restart attempts. During the descent, the airplane broke out of the clouds about 3,000 ft. The pilot realized that he would not be able to reach the airport he had selected and redirected the airplane toward a nearby highway. During the landing flare on the highway, the right-wing tip struck a road sign. The airplane exited the highway and came to rest nose down in a ditch. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was utilizing the fuel flow indicator during the flight to aid in balancing fuel during the flight. He noted that he would switch tanks after about every 10 gallons burned. When the airplane was recovered from the accident site, recovery personnel drained 22 gallons from the right-wing fuel tanks and 26 gallons from the left-wing fuel tanks. A postaccident engine test run was conducted. The airplane’s wings had been removed and a temporary fuel can plumbed into the left wing fuel line for the test run. The propeller was bent and was replaced with a surrogate propeller for the test run. The engine started on the first attempt and ran without any problems or malfunctions. The J.P. Instruments, Inc., EDM-900 engine monitor was removed from the airplane for subsequent download of stored data. The data supported the pilot’s description that the fuel flow dropped and the engine lost power with a corresponding loss of exhaust gas temperatures and cylinder head temperatures. The reason for the interruption of fuel flow could not be determined during the postaccident airplane examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8038Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8038Z), registered now, S/N E-2568, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2568 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 2868 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B 300 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kjk Enterprises LLC - Registered owner: Kjk Enterprises LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 3R7, Jennings, LA - Destination: JCT, Junction, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 6R3, Cleveland Muni - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KCXO, 19 nm away - METAR: KCXO 020814Z AUTO 00000KT 4SM BR SCT003 09/08 A3015 RMK AO2 T00890083 ## 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 20211202020699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211202020699A), Dec 2, 2021: Beech A36, Substantial damage. The pilot stated the aircraft was flying at 6,000 feet when the engine quit running. He attempted to restart the engine using the left and right fuel tank but… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104356. 1.2 MB in all. - Record of conversation with pilot (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15224259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15224460&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ROC-Rel.pdf - Engine run notes (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15221908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA059%20Engine%20Run%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Recorder specialist factual report (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 687 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15221639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Recorder%20Specialist%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Jpi engine monitor tabular data (item 5, CSV, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15220123&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20Accident%20Flight%20Tabular%20Data-Rel.csv 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.