DFW07LA191

NTSB accident investigation · Beech B35 · Borger, TX · September 2, 2007

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 2, 2007, 13:58 local (18:58 UTC)
Place
Borger, TX
Injuries
2 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N118TTBeech B35
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 28, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO, TCM
FAA report
20070902019449A
Case key
66566

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

A loss of engine power while on approach due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident were a corroded carburetor fuel needle valve, inlet fuel screen and no suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Analysis

The single engine airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power while on approach. The airplane came to rest in a nose down vertical position against a private residence carport. The flight departed on the 258 nautical mile VFR cross country flight approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes earlier and was landing at a planned overnight stop. An examination of the engine was performed and evidence of corrosion and rust contamination was found in the carburetor inlet fuel screen, and around the fuel needle valve and needle valve seat.

Factual narrative

On September 2, 2007 at 1358 central daylight time N118TT, a Beech Bonanza BE35, single engine airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power while on approach to Hutchinson, County Airport (KBGD) near Borger, Texas. The aircraft came to rest in a nose down vertical position against a private residence carport. The private pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot had to have emergency crews cut away a portion of the cockpit area to allow egress. The passenger was able to egress unassisted. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the visual flight rules (VFR) flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91.

The flight departed Hicks Field, Fort Worth, Texas Field (T67) at approximately 1205 for the VFR flight to KBGD for an overnight stop.

The airplane was recovered to a secure hanger for further examination. On September 4, 2007 a Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted an examination of the airplane and conducted interviews with witnesses and the pilot. On September 14, 2007 an examination of engine was performed by the engine manufacturer under the supervision of the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge. There was evidence of corrosion and rust contamination found in the carburetor inlet fuel screen , and around the fuel needle valve and needle valve seat.

The automated weather reporting facility at Hutchinson County airport (KGBD), approximately 3/4 nautical miles northwest from the accident site, reported an observation at 1351 as winds variable at 4 knots, 10 statue miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 31 degrees Celsius, dew point 11 degrees Celsius, and barometric pressure of 30.18 inches of Mercury.

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.

Loss of engine powerApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
CorrodedFactor
Fuel system,screen - corrodedFactor
Fuel system - blocked(partial)
Fluid - starvationCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Terrain condition - none suitableFactor
On ground/water collision with objectEmergency landing
Object - wire,transmission
Object - residence

Aircraft

Registration
N118TT
Reported as
Beech B35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
D-2602
Airframe hours
1,569
Engine
Teledyne Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · December 1, 2006
Departed
T67 · Fort Worth, TX
Destination
KBGD · Borger, TX
Airport
KBGD · Hutchinson County Airport

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
44
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
December 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
422 total · 91 in this make and model · 360 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.18 inHg
Observed at
KBGD, 1 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.