# NTSB LAX04LA047: Beech A36TC, N52AM, Visalia, CA, November 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 16, 2003, 20:15 local (Nov 17, 2003, 04:15 UTC) - Place: Visalia, CA - Coordinates: 36.318611, -119.392776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3186&lon=-119.3928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58352/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA047 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light ## Analysis The airplane landed hard and collided with airport lighting after the engine lost power during a go-around procedure. Earlier that day, the pilot's flight instructor filled the airplane's fuel tanks and flew for 2.2 hours. The pilot then flew the airplane for approximately 2 hours without adding additional fuel. The power loss occurred during the sixth takeoff that day. Post accident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine. According to the manufacturer, the airplane holds 80 gallons of fuel, with 74 gallons that are usable. The two tip tanks on the airplane hold 20 gallons each, for a total system capacity of 120 gallons. The left tank was 1/4 full at the accident scene; the fuel selector was positioned to the left tank. A post accident examination of the engine and the fuel system components did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. ## Factual narrative On November 16, 2003, at 2015 Pacific standard time, a Beech A36TC, N52AM, lost engine power during a touch-and-go takeoff from the Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS), Visalia, California, and collided with obstacles The pilot was operating the airplane, which was registered to a private company of the pilot's, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed the Santa Maria Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, about 1930, for the cross-country personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator reported that the pilot was doing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings at Visalia. After takeoff, the pilot retracted the gear and the engine sputtered and quit. The mixture, throttle, and propeller were all in the full forward position. The airplane then touched down hard on the runway, and a wing separated after colliding with runway approach lights. The pilot heard a clicking sound coming from the engine compartment while the master switch was on. At the accident scene, the inspector found 1/4-tank of fuel in the left main tank; the right main fuel tank was breached. Although he could not visually verify the fuel in the tip tanks, he could hear "sloshing" when the right tip tank was moved. He could not hear "sloshing" in the left tip tank. The fuel selector was positioned to the left main tank. The pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI) was interviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge. The CFI stated that he departed Visalia alone around 0800 the morning of the accident with full fuel tanks. He flew to Paso Robles where he picked up the owner. They then flew to Merced, where the owner was dropped off to pick up his vehicle. The CFI then flew the airplane back to Visalia. Total time of the flight was 2.3 hours. That night, the owner returned to Visalia with his vehicle and then flew alone to Santa Maria. He then flew back to Visalia and upon landing, he decided to do a go-around. During the go-around the engine lost power. The day prior, the owner and CFI were flying the airplane and it was noted that one of the tip tanks was not feeding fuel to the engine properly. The CFI could not remember which one. When one of the tip tanks was used, the engine lost power. The CFI did not use the tip tanks the day of the accident, nor did he feel that the owner would. In a phone conversation on March 22, 2004, the owner reported that the airplane was fueled by the CFI, prior to the departure from Visalia. The owner did not refuel the airplane again that day. He further reported that the flight from Visalia to Santa Maria, then back to Visalia, was about 2 hours duration. During the flights, the owner flew at altitudes 8,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and below. During cruise flight, he would routinely lean the mixture and use the tip tanks. The pilot calculated his fuel burn rate using a fuel burn of 20 gallons per hour. According to the airplane manufacturer, the airplane holds 80 gallons of fuel, 74 gallons are usable. Tip tanks were installed on the airplane on October 27, 1987 under a Major Alteration and Repair, FAA Form 337. Each tank held 20 gallons of fuel. The recommended cruise power performance chart for the airplane indicates a fuel burn rate of approximately 15 gallons per hour. Using this fuel burn rate, 64.5 gallons of fuel would have been used during the flight. This calculation does not include the additional fuel required during the takeoff climbs. The accident occurred during the sixth takeoff. A post accident examination of the engine and the fuel system components did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52AM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52AM-2008-02-11), registration cancelled 2008-02-11, S/N EA-71, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A36TC - Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: EA-71 - Airframe hours: 4363 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-UB8 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Rodgers - Registered owner: Visalia Stockmans Market - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 2003, 36 hours before - Departed: SMX, Santa Maria, CA - Destination: VIS, Visalia, CA - Airport: VIS, Visalia, runway 12, 6,559 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KVIS ## 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 20031116028509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031116028509A), Nov 16, 2003: Beech A36TC, Visalia, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 11-16-03 at approximately 2000 hours PST, Mr. John frank rodgers, a commercial pilot, was acting as pilot in command of a Beechcraft A-36TC aircraft… 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.