# NTSB CHI84IA404: Beech A36TC, N305MM, Lafayette, IN, September 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1984, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Lafayette, IN
- Location: 40.4115° N, 86.9939° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from PURDUE UNIVERSITY (LAF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4115&lon=-86.9939&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12459
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84IA404
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12459/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84IA404

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, descent - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE LEVELED OFF AT 3000 FT MSL, THE AUX FUEL BOOST SWITCH WAS STILL ON, SO HE SWITCHED IT 'OFF.' WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN WITH A BIT OF VIBRATION, SO HE RETURNED THE SWITCH TO 'ON' & LEFT IT IN THAT POSITION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. THE EN ROUTE PORTION OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. DURING A DESCENT THRU 2300 FT, IN IFR CONDITIONS NEAR THE DESTINATION, THE ENG STOPPED RUNNING. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. HE REPORTED THAT THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE OVERCAST AT A LOW ALT. THE PLT SAW A SUITABLE FIELD & LANDED, BUT THE ACFT RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A RUN-UP. NO REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER WAS IDENTIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N305MM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N305MM), registered now, S/N EA-188, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA 188
- Airframe hours: 669
- Engines: LYCOMING TSIO-520-UB 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mainline Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MDW, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: LAF, LAFAYETTE, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAF, Lafayette

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAF, 3 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).

- [Incident 19840924074539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840924074539I), Sep 24, 1984: Beech A36TC, Lafayette, IN, Minor damage. Auxillary fuel boost pump left on to smooth the running of engine. Later, engine quit. No restart. No malfunctions.

## Other investigations on N305MM (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 DEN00LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA077), Apr 21, 2000: Beech A36TC (N305MM), Monument Valley, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure by the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. Factors were a dust devil/whirlwind and the pilot's lack of landing currency.

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.

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