# NTSB FTW03LA129: Beech V35B, N390BC, Fort Worth, TX, April 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2003, 07:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.987499, -97.318611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9875&lon=-97.3186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56808/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA129 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to corrosion and contamination of the fuel system, and the partially blocked fuel lines and nozzles. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - fuel system,filter - contamination (contributing factor) - fuel system,fuel flow divider/distributor - contamination (contributing factor) - fuel system,line - blocked(partial) (contributing factor) - fuel system,nozzle - blocked(partial) (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Upon accepting a clearance to climb to 3,500 feet msl the pilot increased power. As power was increased, the pilot noticed on the engine data management unit that there were "no bars illuminated for cylinder number 5." The pilot reported to Dallas-Fort Worth air traffic control that the airplane was experiencing engine problems and requested to divert to the nearest airport. Upon receiving directions to the nearest airport, the pilot noticed cylinder #4 "had no readout." He advised air traffic control that he was unable to make the airport and initiated a forced landing. During the landing flare, "airspeed bled so fast that the stall horn beeped and the airplane seemed to accelerate toward the ground." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and came to rest upright in a grass field. Examination of the airframe fuel filter revealed that the fuel filter screen displayed evidence of corrosion, and the housing was full of fuel. Examination of the fuel manifold revealed the topside of the screen contained debris, the #3 fuel nozzle was blocked with contaminants, and debris was found in the #4, #5, and #6 fuel. The #1 manifold to fuel nozzle fuel line was found partially blocked. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2003, at 0740 central daylight time, a Beech V35B, N390BC, registered to the Airline Holding Company, Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb from the Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), Fort Worth, Texas. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the Northwest Regional Airport (52F), near Roanoke, Texas, at 0735, and was destined for Ennis, Texas. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) that shortly after departure from 52F during initial climb to 2,500 msl, he accepted a clearance to climb to 3,500 feet msl and increased engine power for the climb. The pilot stated that as power was increased, something didn't seem right and he noticed on the engine data management unit, J.P. Instrument (JPI) EDM-700 that there were "no bars illuminated for cylinder number 5." The pilot reported to Dallas-Fort Worth air traffic control that the airplane was experiencing engine problems and requested to divert to the nearest airport. Upon receiving directions to AFW, the pilot initiated a turn towards the airport and noticed that cylinder #4 "had no readout." He advised Dallas-Fort Worth air traffic control that he was unable to make AFW and initiated a forced landing. During the landing flare, "airspeed bled so fast that the stall horn beeped and the airplane seemed to accelerate toward the ground." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and came to rest upright in a grass field approximately 5 miles southeast of AFW. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that both main landing gears were separated, the fuselage was wrinkled aft of the cabin, and the engine was separated from its mounts. The JPI EDM-700 was removed for data extraction and examination. According to the engine logbooks, The Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) IO-520- BA(12) engine was rebuilt by TCM on September 15, 1992, and installed on the aircraft on October 14, 1992. The aircraft logbooks indicated the most recent annual inspection was preformed on April 12, 2002, 531.8 hours since the installation of the engine. The airplane had accumulated 78.74 hours since the last annual inspection and approximately 10 hours in the last 90 days. On May 13, 2003, at the facilities of Air Salvage of Dallas, located at Lancaster, Texas, the airframe and engine were examined under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. Examination of the airframe fuel filter housing and filter revealed that it was intact and properly safety wired. The fuel filter screen displayed evidence of corrosion, and the housing was full of fuel. Examination of the fuel manifold revealed that the seal intact, the topside of the screen contained debris, the #3 fuel nozzle was blocked with contaminates, and debris was found in the #4, #5, and #6 fuel. The #1 manifold to fuel nozzle fuel line was found partially blocked. Extracted data from the JPI EDM-700 revealed information on 30 prior flights and started on September 4, 2002. The recorded data included exhaust gas temperatures (EGT) and cylinder head temperatures (CHT) for each cylinder. In addition, the recorded data included the differential between the highest and lowest EGT and the time of the measurement. The extracted data revealed that the time from engine start-up to impact was approximately 16 minutes and 8 seconds. Approximately 10 minutes and 20 seconds after engine startup, the #5 cylinder indicated a drop off on the EGT and CHT. Within 3 minutes and 36 seconds after the drop of #5 cylinder CHT and EGT, cylinders #1, #3, and #4 indicated a drop in EGT and CHT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N390BC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N390BC-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N D10053, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D10053 - Airframe hours: 2281.25 - Engines: Continental IO-520BA(12) 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas Hollister - Registered owner: Airline Holding Company Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2002, 78.92 hours before - Departed: 52F, ROANOKE, TX - Destination: F41, Ennis, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; airline transport, recreational, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 12, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 24,921 total, 320 in this make and model, 21,581 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: AFW, 5 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 20030414009639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030414009639A), Apr 14, 2003: Beech V35B, Ft Worth, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On April 14, 2003, at 0740 CDT, a Beech V35B, N390BC, registered to airline holdings company, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing,… 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.