# NTSB CEN22LA403: Beech A36, N2270L, Houghton Lake, MI, August 31, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 31, 2022, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Houghton Lake, MI - Coordinates: 44.2976, -84.8678 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2976&lon=-84.8678&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 105845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA403 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105845/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105845 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA403 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech A36, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident occurred during a two-leg cross-country flight. The airplane was fully fueled before the return flight. After takeoff, the flight climbed to about 9,000 ft above mean sea level (msl) and proceeded direct to the intended destination. Midway through the flight, the engine began “sputtering for a quick second” and subsequently lost power. The pilot’s attempts to restore engine power, which included adjusting the mixture, were not successful. The propeller continued to windmill during the gliding descent. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open marsh area, and the fuselage and both wings were damaged during the impact sequence. Postaccident examinations of the fuel-injected engine and airframe fuel system did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. The left-wing fuel tank vent was clogged with dirt due to the ground impact. The left-wing fuel vent orifice within the fuel tank bladder contained a small amount of debris; however, the vent was not fully obstructed and remained operational. The right-wing fuel vents were clear. Fuel was recovered from both wing tanks at the accident site. Engine monitor data revealed that the oil pressure, fuel flow, and exhaust gas and cylinder head temperatures were stable during the initial portion of the flight. However, at the time of the loss of engine power, the fuel flow abruptly dropped to near zero and remained there for the duration of the flight. Engine speed and manifold pressure data was not recorded. The exhaust gas temperatures initially increased and then decreased abruptly. The data recovered from the engine monitor suggested that the loss of engine power was due to an abrupt decrease in fuel flow. However, the engine and airframe fuel system examinations did not reveal any discrepancies consistent with a loss of fuel flow, specifically, or a loss of engine power, in general. The amount of fuel drained from the airplane following the accident indicated that fuel was present in both fuel tanks at the time of the power loss. The minor debris observed in the right fuel tank vent was not significant enough to obstruct the vent line and did not contribute to the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2022, about 1640 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane, N2270L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Houghton Lake, Michigan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the accident occurred during a two-leg cross-country flight. The airplane was fully fueled before the return flight. After takeoff, he climbed to 9,000 ft msl and proceeded direct to the intended destination under visual flight rules. Midway through the flight, the engine began “sputtering for a quick second” and subsequently lost power. The pilot’s attempts to restore engine power, which included adjusting the mixture, were not successful. The propeller continued to windmill during the gliding descent. Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the flight departed Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), Traverse City, Michigan, about 1617 and proceeded south-southeast toward Oakland County International Airport (PTK), Pontiac, Michigan. The airplane reached an altitude of nearly 9,000 ft before it entered a gradual descent. About 1633, the airplane flight track turned to an easterly course, and the descent continued until the end of the available data. The final data point was recorded at 1639:15 with a corresponding altitude of 1,825 ft. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he switched fuel tanks about every 15 to 20 minutes during the flight, and that he had last switched fuel tanks about 5 minutes before the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open marsh area. The accident site was located about 0.4 mile beyond the final ADS-B data point at an elevation of about 1,130 ft. The fuselage nose forward of the firewall, including the engine, propeller, nose landing gear, and engine cowling, was separated from the remainder of the airframe. The outboard portion of both wings and the inboard portion of the right wing were damaged. Postaccident examinations of the engine and airframe fuel system did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. The engine exhibited internal continuity and compression at each cylinder. Both magnetos provided a spark across each ignition harness lead, and the engine-driven fuel pump was operational. The fuel system exhibited continuity from both wing roots to the engine fuel line at the firewall, and from both wing tanks to the corresponding wing root fuel inlet. The cockpit fuel selector operated normally during the exam. The left-wing fuel tank vent was clogged with dirt consistent with the accident sequence. The left-wing fuel vent orifice within the fuel tank bladder contained a small amount of debris; however, the vent was not fully obstructed and remained operational. The right-wing fuel vents were clear, and the tank bladder was intact. A total of 52 gallons of fuel was recovered from theairplane at the accident site. The airplane had a total fuel capacity of 80 gallons, of which 74 gallons were usable. The airplane was equipped with an engine monitor that recorded oil temperature, fuel flow, exhaust gas temperatures, and cylinder head temperatures. The oil temperature appeared stable throughout the flight. The exhaust gas and cylinder head temperatures were stable and consistent during the initial portion of the flight. The fuel flow was steady at 17 to 18 gph until 1631:30 when it abruptly dropped to near zero and remained there for the duration of the available data. At that time, the exhaust gas temperatures increased briefly and then decreased abruptly. The cylinder head temperatures decreased gradually beginning about one minute before the decrease in fuel flow. Afterward, they decreased abruptly. No other engine parameters such as engine speed or manifold pressure were available. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2270L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2270L), registered now, S/N E-922, built 1976 (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-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-922 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 3593.6 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2022, 3.3 hours before - Departed: TVC, Traverse City, MI - Destination: PTK, Pontiac, MI - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 360 total, 76 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KHTL, 9.5 nm away - METAR: METAR KHTL 312053Z AUTO 30015G29KT 10SM FEW060 24/09 A2990 ## 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 20220831016609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220831016609A), Aug 31, 2022: Beech A36, Houghton Lake, MI, Substantial damage. On 8/31/2022 at approximately 1640 EDT, [privacy data omitted] a Beech A36, [privacy data omitted] experienced engine power loss that resulted in an emergency… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105845. - Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17240337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Plot of airplane position data (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17244212&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Plot%20of%20Airplane%20Position%20Data-Rel.pdf - ADS-B data file (item 3, CSV, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17240347&FileExtension=csv&FileName=ADS-B%20Data%20File%20--%20CEN22LA403-Rel.csv - Airplane examination summary (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17242022&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN22LA403-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 9 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17253591&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN22LA403-Rel.pdf - Airplane recovery personnel statement (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17241387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Recovery%20Personnel%20Stmt-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- FAA inspector (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17243526&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Engine data monitor - specialist's factual report (item 8, PDF, 8 pages, 853 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15682519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA403%20Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to engine data monitor - specialist's factual report (item 9, CSV, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15683178&FileExtension=csv&FileName=CEN22LA403%20Attachment%201%20to%20Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.csv - Maintenance records -- airframe (item 10, PDF, 7 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17248155&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Airframe_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- engine (item 11, PDF, 9 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17239774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Engine_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- propeller (item 12, PDF, 2 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17239422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Propeller_redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 13, PDF, 2 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17241282&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20--%20CEN22LA403_redacted-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.