# NTSB ERA21LA174: Beech A36, N18394, Arcadia, FL, April 6, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 6, 2021, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Arcadia, FL - Coordinates: 27.176616, -81.826713 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1766&lon=-81.8267&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102884/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102884 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA174 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for underdetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Beech A36, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [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 A36, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noticed the engine rpm had increased and oil pressure was zero. While returning to the airport the engine lost all power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. About 8 months prior to the accident, all six cylinders were replaced. Examination of the engine revealed the engine was seized and would not rotate. The reason for the loss of power was not determined. The engine was not made available for an NTSB postaccident examination. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 2021, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, N18394, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arcadia, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after takeoff he reduced engine speed to 2,300 rpm at an altitude about 800 ft mean sea level (msl). Several minutes later, he noticed that the engine rpm had risen to 2,500 and the oil pressure was zero. The pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, the engine “locked and the propeller stopped turning.” The airplane was at an altitude of 1,700 ft msl and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, the airplane’s right wing and cowling were substantially damaged. There was oil streaking present on the left side of the fuselage. According to the engine logbook, all six cylinders were replaced about 8 months before the accident. The airplane accumulated about 61 hours between the maintenance performed and the accident. Examination of the engine revealed the engine was seized; no holes were found in the crankcase and the oil filter remained attached to the engine. The No. 4 spark plug was oily, the others were in normal wear condition when compared to a Champion Spark Aviation Check-A-Plug chart AV-27. Both magnetos were removed, actuated with an electric drill, and spark was produced at all terminal leads. The valve covers were removed, and valve movement was not observed on Nos. 2, 3, and 6. The propeller movement was limited. The Nos. 5 and 6 cylinders would not move. The engine was not made available for an additional, follow up examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18394](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18394), registered now, S/N E-1121, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1121 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 5443 - Engines: Continental IO520BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2022, 61 hours before - Destination: KVNC, Venice, FL - Airport: X06, Arcadia Muni - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,240 total, 61 in this make and model, 61 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PGD, 18 nm away - METAR: KPGD 061453Z 15005KT 10SM CLR 24/12 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP225 T02390117 51017 ## 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 20210406009209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210406009209A), Apr 6, 2021: Beech A36, Arcadia, FL, Destroyed. N18394 took off from X06 in Arcadia FL, minutes after take-off the pilot noticed the rpms going up, he also noticed the oil pressure down to zero. He tried to… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 24, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102884. 135 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15029139&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 849 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13848723&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20correspondence_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13847870&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Riccardi-Rel.pdf - Engine logbook (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 126 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13583492&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mfr wreckage sold (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14408266&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20wreckage%20sold-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13491802&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14021221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.