# NTSB DEN08LA057: Beech A45, N34KF, Englewood, CO, February 12, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2008, 15:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.569999, -104.849166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5700&lon=-104.8492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67545/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to fly the airplane with a discharged battery, which resulted in a total electrical failure during takeoff climb. Contributing factors were the pilot's inability to verify the landing gear position, and the impact with the runway sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system: battery/charger](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432/cases.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A45, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Electrical power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md) - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech A45, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A45, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1152006), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the airplane the battery was dead, and he used an external source to "charge/start the airplane." The taxi and initial takeoff were uneventful. During the landing gear retraction after takeoff, the airplane "lost total electrical power." The pilot elected to continue the flight and troubleshoot the electrical failure. With no electrical power, the pilot had no communications, and had to manually extend the landing gear. A second airplane flew near the accident airplane to help verify that the landing gear was extended. The landing gear appeared to be extended, and the pilot attempted to land the airplane. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane went off the runway. The right wing impacted a runway sign, and the nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright approximately 10 feet off the runway. An examination of the airplane showed that the aircraft battery was completely discharged. The owner of the airplane reported that the alternator would not be able to handle the electrical load during landing gear retraction without battery power. ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2008, approximately 1505 mountain standard time, a Beech A45 single-engine airplane, N34KF, sustained substantial damage when the right wing impacted a runway sign following the collapsed of the right main landing gear during landing roll at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Goldwing Aviation, LLC, Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 demonstration flight. The local flight departed at 1454. According to the pilot, prior to starting the airplane the battery was dead, and he used an external source to "charge/start the airplane." The pilot stated the taxi and initial takeoff were uneventful. During the landing gear retraction after takeoff, the airplane "lost total electrical power." The pilot elected to continue the flight and troubleshoot the electrical failure. Due to the loss of electrical power, the pilot had no communications and had to manually extend the landing gear. A second airplane flew near the accident airplane to try and verify whether the landing gear was extended. The landing gear appeared to be extended, and the pilot attempted to land the airplane. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane departed the runway surface. The right wing impacted a runway sign, and the nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright approximately 10 feet off the runway. Examination of the airplane by the owner and a local mechanic revealed the right wing spar and wing ribs were bent. According to a maintenence technician who examined the airplane, the aircraft battery was completely discharged. The owner of the airplane reported that the alternator would not be able to handle the electrical load during landing gear retraction without battery power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34KF-2008-06-09), registration cancelled 2008-06-09, S/N G-120, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A45 - Registry model: [Beech A45](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a45) (registry code 1152006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: G-120 - Airframe hours: 7847 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Goldwing Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: Robert E. Gold - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2007 - Departed: APA, Englewood, CO - Airport: APA, Centennial Airport, runway 35R, 10,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 8,340 total, 1,844 in this make and model, 8,180 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: APA ## 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 20080212012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080212012139A), Feb 12, 2008: Beech A45, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) PIC states that after takeoff a total loss of electrical equipment was experienced. PIC made approach to landing at departure airport where front seat… 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.