# NTSB ERA15LA232: Beech A23 24, N29JR, Grove Hill, AL, June 1, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2015, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Grove Hill, AL - Coordinates: 31.70861, -87.776947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7086&lon=-87.7769&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91290/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91290 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA232 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because engine examination and testing did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the long cross-country flight, he stopped at an intermediate airport and added 30 gallons of fuel to the airplane. About 15 minutes after departure from that airport and while the airplane was cruising at 3,500 ft, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine using the emergency procedures but was unsuccessful. He then chose a field for an emergency landing. During the landing on rough terrain, the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the wreckage revealed that each wing fuel tank was about half full, and fuel drained from the fuel sump did not contain any visible contamination. Subsequent engine examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions, and the engine was test run successfully. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2015, about 1730 central daylight time, a Beech A23-24, N29JR, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field in Grove Hill, Alabama, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Jack Edward Airport (JKA), Gulf Shores, Alabama. The flight originated from Demopolis Regional Airport (DYA), Demopolis, Alabama, about 1715. The pilot stated that during a cross-country flight, he stopped at DYA and added 30 gallons of fuel. About 15 minutes after departure, while cruising at 3,500 feet, the engine lost all power. The pilot utilized emergency procedures to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He then selected a field for an emergency landing due to utility wires surrounding the adjacent roads. The pilot also noted that there was an airport he had recently flown over, but it was behind him and he could not locate it. As such, he felt that the field was the best option for the forced landing. The touchdown was normal, but the field included rough terrain, which resulted in the nosegear collapsing before the airplane came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that an engine mount and underside fuselage sustained damage. The inspector noted that each wing fuel tank was approximately half-full. He drained fuel from the fuel sump and it did not contain any visible contamination. Due to the disposition of the wreckage, the inspector was not able to examine the engine. Subsequently, when a recovery company lifted the airplane from the field, the recovery crew was able to rotate the propeller and confirm continuity to the rear accessory section of the engine, with the sound of the magneto impulse coupling activating. They also attained thumb compression on each cylinder. The engine was later test-run at the recovery facility under the supervision of an NTSB investigator. Fuel was plumbed to the fuel pump, the battery was replaced, and the exhaust pipe was manually opened to correct impact damage. The engine then started and ran continuously at settings between idle and 1,700 rpm, where a successful magneto check was performed. Due to vibration as a result of impact damage, a high power setting was not attempted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29JR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29JR), registered now, S/N MA-235 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A23 24 - Registry model: [Beech A23-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23-24) (registry code 1151226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MA-235 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4173 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-2B2N 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2015, 3 hours before - Departed: DYA, Demopolis, AL - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Airport: 3A0, Grove Hill Municipal Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,751 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: GZH, 40 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 20150601010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150601010439A), Jun 1, 2015: Beech A23-24, Grove Hill, AL, Substantial damage. On June 1, 2015, the pilot of N29JR was flying cross country from KM91 to kjka. He stopped in kdya for a fuel stop and purchased 30 gallons of 100LL, and then… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91290. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Observation of Engine Test Run (item 5, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Observation%20of%20Engine%20Test%20Run-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2 photos, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.