# NTSB ERA11CA255: Beech F33A, N334J, Ocala, FL, April 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 21, 2011, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Ocala, FL - Coordinates: 29.171943, -82.224166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1719&lon=-82.2242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA255 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distracted attention due to the electrical system failure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system: aC generator-alternator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022421): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022421/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022421/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis While in cruise flight at 8,000 feet, the airplane lost electrical power. The pilot said he had the airport in sight, so he did not declare an emergency. He stated that he selected the landing gear handle to the down-and-locked position, but he could not recall if the gear position light was illuminated, nor could he remember hearing the landing gear motor. He said he did not use the manual gear extension procedure. On final approach he reduced the engine power, but the engine stayed at full power. He said he was unable to lower the flaps and the airplane touched down fast and bounced. Postaccident examination revealed that the battery was dead. The pilot stated that he was very nervous and distracted by all of the system failures. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that while at 8,000 feet he began losing electrical power to all of his instruments, including radios. He had the airport in sight, so he did not declare an emergency, but did switch his transponder to 7600. He stated that he selected the landing gear handle to the down position, he did not remember acknowledging the gear position indicator, nor did he remember hearing the gear motor, and he did not use the hand crank for the landing gear. He said he was unable to lower the flaps. On final, he pulled the power, but the engine stayed at full power despite the fact that the throttle was retarded. He landed fast. He tried to flare but the airplane was going too fast. He said he landed bounced, and then the airplane came back down hard. The pilot stated that he was very nervous and distracted by all of the system failures. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the battery dead, and substantial damage to the engine compartment and forward cabin/cockpit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N334J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N334J-2012-12-04), registration cancelled 2012-12-04, S/N CE-1644, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH F33A - Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-1644 - Airframe hours: 2603 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2011, 2 hours before - Departed: SRQ, Sarasota, FL - Destination: BLF, Bluefield, WV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: OCF, Ocala International Airport, runway 36, 7,463 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 972 total, 182 in this make and model, 729 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: OCF ## 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 20110421006449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110421006449A), Apr 21, 2011: Beech F33A, Ocala, FL, Substantial damage. During cruise flight aircraft experienced a loss of the electrical charging system. The battery was drained and all electrical systems failed. Extension of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78935. 444 KB in all. - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Summary of Pilot's interview. (item 1, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Summary%20of%20Pilot%27s%20interview.-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 390 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies; FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies;%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.