- Date
- August 1, 2001, 11:31 local (16:31 UTC)
- Place
- Sugar Grove, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N136GRBeech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 3, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Adminstration
- FAA report
- 20010801032209A
- Case key
- 52921
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the inadequate maintenance inspection and the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot mechanic. The fuel system leak was a contributing factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot/mechanic performed a forced landing on a bean field after a total loss of engine power during departure from the airport. The pilot/mechanic reported that he was performing a maintenance test flight when the engine quit at approximately 500 feet agl. He reported that the no fuel leaks were noted during a ground test run and no anomalies were noted during a run up prior to departure. The main fuel line to the flow divider was reported to have backed off.
Factual narrative
On August 1, 2001, at 1131 central daylight time, a Beech A36, N136GR, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a bean field near Sugar Grove, Illinois. The pilot reported a total loss of engine power during climb from runway 18 (3,199 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Aurora Municipal Airport, Sugar Grove, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 maintenance test flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from the Aurora Municipal Airport, Aurora, Illinois at 1129.
The pilot/mechanic reported that the airplane had received an annual inspection. A ground test run was performed prior to the maintenance test flight with no fuel leaks noted. He reported that during a postaccident inspection of the airplane, a fuel line loosened but did not come completely off the fitting. He also stated that there was evidence of a small fire in the engine compartment area.
The pilot reported in a written statement, "Ground run up after annual [inspection] ok. No leakage noted. Run up before flight ok. Full power attained at takeoff. [Approximately] 500 [feet] engine quit. Changed fuel tanks [and] turned on fuel pump. Engine restarted [and] quit after [approximately] 5 [seconds]. Put down landing gear and landed straight ahead in a bean field. Beans collapsed nosegear [and] damaged wings [and] firewall. No injuries. Found main fuel line to flow divider had backed off about 3-4 turns. Fuel stain evident."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N136GR
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E2115
- Airframe hours
- 3,400
- Engine
- Continental IO-550-B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · Part 91
- Operator
- Luminair Aviation Services
- Registered owner
- Star Fleet Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2001 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- ARR · Aurora, IL
- Airport
- ARR · Aurora Municipal Airport, runway 18, 3,199 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- June 3, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 625 total · 25 in this make and model · 585 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.22 inHg
- Observed at
- ARR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.