# NTSB LAX00LA202: Beech 35-B33, N9591Y, Boulder City, NV, May 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2000, 18:49 local (May 21, 2000, 01:49 UTC) - Place: Boulder City, NV - Coordinates: 35.989131, -114.810287 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9891&lon=-114.8103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49247/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA202 ## Probable cause The fracture and separation of the oil pressure line fitting, which resulted in a loss of oil and an oil starvation failure of the engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - lubricating system,oil line - fractured (cause) - fluid,oil - loss,total (cause) - engine assembly,bearing - overtemperature (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod - separation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The airplane collided with a berm during a forced landing following a catastrophic engine failure as the airplane descended toward the destination airport. The pilot reported that the flight was uneventful until they were preparing to start a descent over Lake Mead. Suddenly a loud 'pop or clunk' noise came from the engine compartment and the engine began to vibrate and run roughly, then quit altogether. This was accompanied by a large amount of smoke. The pilot setup for a landing on a paved model airplane field and landed successfully; however, he could not stop the airplane prior to colliding with a berm and collapsing the landing gear. Following recovery of the aircraft, the engine was examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector. A large hole was observed in the upper left rear engine case in the area of the Nos. 1 and 2 connecting rods. The No. 2 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft with the journal end severely peened and damaged. The rod end was protruding from the hole in the case. The No. 2 bearing insert was destroyed, with heat discoloration noted on the journal saddle. The corresponding portion of the crankshaft was also heat discolored and scored. The inspector observed that the oil pressure line from the engine to the Hobbs meter pressure switch was broken at the switch's fitting. Oil was noted covering the engine compartment area around the broken fitting. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2000, at 1849 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech 35-B33, N9591Y, collided with a berm during a forced landing near Boulder City, Nevada. The forced landing was precipitated by a catastrophic engine failure during cruise. The aircraft was operated by Glendale Aviation of Glendale, Arizona, and rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and the two passengers on board were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Glendale airport at 1650 as a nonstop cross-country flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. In written statements and a telephone interview, the pilot and the right seat passenger, who also holds a private pilot certificate, reported that the flight was uneventful until they were preparing to start a descent over Lake Mead. Suddenly a loud "pop or clunk" noise came from the engine compartment and the engine began to vibrate and run roughly. This was accompanied by a large amount of smoke. Las Vegas TRACON had been providing radar vectors for sequencing into the Las Vegas McCarran airport and gave the pilot a vector toward the lowest and flattest terrain. During this time the engine quit altogether. The pilot set up for a landing on a paved model airplane field on the shore of Lake Mead and landed successfully; however, could not stop prior to colliding with a berm and collapsing the landing gear. Following recovery of the aircraft, the engine was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector. A large hole was observed in the upper left rear engine case in the area of the Nos. 1 and 2 connecting rods. The No. 2 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft with the journal end severely peened and damaged. The rod end was protruding from the hole in the case. The No. 2 bearing insert was destroyed, with heat discoloration noted on the journal saddle. The corresponding portion of the crankshaft was also heat discolored and scored. During the initial assessment of the engine prior to removal from the airframe for disassembly, the inspector observed that the oil pressure line from the engine to the Hobbs meter pressure switch was broken at the switch's fitting. Oil was noted covering the engine compartment area around the broken fitting. The oil line was supported by Adel clamps. According to the inspector, the fracture surfaces were shiny and granular. According to the maintenance records, the engine had accumulated 481 hours since major overhaul. The fractured line was estimated to have about 1,500 hours of operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9591Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9591Y), registered now, S/N CD-546, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35-B33 - Registry model: [Beech 35-B33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-b33) (registry code 1151406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD-546 - Airframe hours: 5130 - Engines: Continental IO-470K 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Glendale Aviation - Registered owner: Vincent M. Rivera - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2000, 55 hours before - Departed: GEU, GLENDALE, AZ - Destination: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; private, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 147 total, 82 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 199 °F, dew point 100 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS, 15 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 20000520004659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000520004659A), May 20, 2000: Beech 35B33, Boulder City, NV, No damage. While on a personal pleasure flight over lake mead, NV. The pilot heard a loud bang, engine lost power and quit. The pilot made an emergency landing in a… 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.