# NTSB DEN07LA122: Beech C-45H, N9562Z, Longmont, CO, July 19, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2007, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Longmont, CO - Coordinates: 40.119445, -105.055557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1194&lon=-105.0556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66294/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA122 ## Probable cause The instructor pilot's improper preflight in that he failed to close the rocker box recovery system drain valves, resulting in a total loss of lubricating oil and subsequent oil starvation to both engines. A contributing factor was the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lubricating system,oil quickdrain/drain plug - not secured (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - all engines - failure,total - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, approach - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - object - utility pole ## Analysis During the instructional flight, the instructor shut down the right engine and feathered the propeller. It was subsequently restarted, but the left engine started running rough and began to vibrate. The left engine was shut down and the propeller feathered. Level flight was maintained from power produced by the right engine. The left engine was then restarted but instead of producing thrust, the engine produced more drag so it was secured again. Then the right engine began losing power. Full power was applied but the airplane continued to descend. The instructor lowered the landing gear and while in-transit, the airplane clipped the tops of trees. He was able to guide the airplane between two houses and impacted an open field. The airplane bounced across the road, struck a power pole, and caught fire. The two pilots evacuated the airplane via the main cabin door. Examination at the airport of departure disclosed two pools of oil at the approximate positions of the two engines. There were two trails of oil leading from the parking spot down the taxiway and onto the runway. Both engines were partially disassembled and examined. There was evidence that both engines had failed catastrophically due to oil starvation. The left engine crankshaft was broken and all the piston heads were at the tops of their cylinders. Pieces of metal were recovered from the right engine oil sump. According to the operator, the engine rocker box recovery system must be drained during preflight to avoid hydraulic lock. The instructor stated that when they preflighted the airplane, the drain valves were open (the drained oil is captured and recycled). He thought they had closed both valves. According to the operator, either the pilot's failed to close the drain valves or they were jammed in the open position. The operator said the latter was unlikely "because you can feel it move when you close it." ## Factual narrative On July 19, 2007, approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, a Beech C-45H, N9562Z, piloted by an airline transport-certificated pilot, was destroyed when it struck trees and impacted terrain following a dual engine loss of power while maneuvering near Longmont, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The airline transport (ATP) certificated instructor pilot was seriously injured, and the ATP pilot receiving instruction received minor injuries. The flight originated at Platte Valley Airpark (18V), Hudson, Colorado, approximately 0845, and was en route to Boulder Airport (1V5) Boulder, Colorado. A witness pbserved the airplane flying at low level about 200 feet and descending. It made a turn to the west, leveled off, then descended sharply. The engines appeared to be "stopped." The airplane flew between two large trees, clipping the left tree. The airplane then impacted an open field. Upon impact with the ground, both engines separated from the airframe. The airplane slid across the field, struck a power pole, slid across a road, and came to rest. There was a post-impact fire According to accident reports submitted by the two pilots, they had planned to fly to Boulder, Colorado, and while en route, they would practice abnormal and emergency procedures. They spent about 1-1/2 hours preflighting the airplane, then departed Platte Valley Airport. During the flight, the right engine was shut down and the propeller feathered. It was subsequently restarted, but the left engine started "running very rough suddenly, and vibrated excessively." The left engine was shut down and the propeller feathered. Level flight was maintained from power produced by the right engine. "Thinking the left engine might still be able to produce thrust, we restarted the left engine," the instructor wrote. Instead of producing thrust, the engine produced more drag so it was secured again. Then the right engine began losing power. Full power was applied but the airplane continued to descend. The instructor's intention was to land on Niwot Road or in the adjacent field. He lowered the landing gear and while the gear was in-transit, the airplane clipped the tops of trees. The instructor was able to guide the airplane between two houses. It impacted an open field, slid 310 feet before bouncing across County Line Road, struck and downed a power pole, and slid another 40 feet before coming to a stop. There was a post-impact fire. The two pilots evacuated the airplane via the main cabin door. The airplane came to rest in the southwest corner of the intersection of County Line Road and Niwot Road (County Road 16). Upon hearing of the accident, the mechanic who maintained the airplane went out to where the airplane had been parked. There were two pools of oil in the run-up area, and trails of oil led out onto the runway. The airplane was recovered and transported to Beegles Aircraft Services, Greeley, Colorado, where, on July 24, 2007, both engines were partially disassembled and examined. There was evidence indicating both engines had failed catastrophically due to oil starvation. The left engine crankshaft was broken and all the piston heads were at the tops of their cylinders. Pieces of metal, including pieces of piston rings, were recovered from the right engine oil sump. According to the airplane operator, Commemorative Air Force, the drain valve in the Engine Rocker Box Recovery System (Saf-Air oil drain valve p/n 00880), used to prevent hydraulic lock and minimize oil clean-up, is opened when the collection vessel is attached after flight. During preflight, the recovery vessel is removed and the valve closed. The internal barrel of the Saf-Air lock open oil drain valve on the left engine was found in the nearly closed position, and the internal barrel on the right engine was in the open position. The open/close lock control on the valves is on the external part of the valves and these external parts were sheared off both engines at impact. According to FAA's airworthiness inspector, the drains are not approved for installation in the Pratt & Whitney R-985 engines (as installed on the Beech C-45). The pilot was later interviewed by telephone. He stated that when they preflighted the airplane, the drain valves were open (the drained oil is captured and recycled). He thought they had closed both valves. According to the Commemorative Air Force, either the pilot failed to close the drain valves or they were jammed in the open position, but the latter would be unlikely "because you can feel the valve move when you close it." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9562Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9562Z-2008-08-25), registration cancelled 2008-08-25, S/N AF-12, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C-45H - Registry model: [Beech C-45H](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-45h) (registry code 1151018) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AF-12 - Airframe hours: 3925 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007, 15 hours before - Departed: 18V, Hudson, CO - Destination: 1V5, Boulder, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 64; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 13 in this make and model, 7,400 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 17 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 20070719020489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070719020489A), Jul 19, 2007: Beech C45H, Longmont, CO, Destroyed. (-23) Flight instructor and student pilot were practicing single engine operations. With right engine at idle the left engine began to vibrate and not produce… 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.