# NTSB LAX04LA232: Beech S35, N6127Q, Flagstaff, AZ, June 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2004, 15:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Flagstaff, AZ - Coordinates: 35.238887, -111.481941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2389&lon=-111.4819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59403/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA232 ## Probable cause oil exhaustion due to a leak from the bottom oil drain line gasket and o-ring for the turbo charger. ## 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 - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - lubricating system,oil seal - deteriorated (cause) - lubricating system,oil seal - leak (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - roadway/highway - object - other ## Analysis The airplane collided with ground obstructions during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. While in cruise flight the pilot observed a decrease in the engine manifold pressure. He adjusted the throttle to increase the manifold pressure, but the pressure continued to drop. He observed that the oil pressure was also low. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to land at a nearby airport. The engine lost all power about 13 miles northeast of the airport and the pilot performed a forced landing on a highway. During the landing rollout the right wingtip contacted a highway guardrail and the wing was torn off the fuselage. Examination of the engine disclosed that the failure was due to oil exhaustion. The turbocharger oil drain line fitting gasket and o-ring was brittle and was broken. This allowed the oil to leak from the turbo charger, resulting in the loss on engine power. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 5, 2004, about 1550 mountain standard time, a Beech S35, N6127Q, impacted a guard rail during an emergency landing on a road, after a total loss of engine power, near Flagstaff, Arizona. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Monument Valley Airport, Monument Valley, Utah, about 1515. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 35 degrees 14.20 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 28.55 minutes west longitude. The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The pilot reported that while in cruise flight he observed a decrease in the engine manifold pressure. He adjusted the throttle to increase the manifold pressure, but the pressure continued to drop. He observed that the oil pressure was also low. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to land at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. About 13 miles northeast of Flagstaff, the engine lost all power and the pilot performed a forced landing on Townsend Winona Highway. During the landing roll the right wingtip contacted a highway guardrail, and subsequently the right wing was detached from the airplane. The airplane was recovered for further examination. TESTS AND RESEARCH On August 3, 2004, the engine was removed from the airplane to determine the cause of the oil leak. It was determined that the turbocharger oil drain line fitting gasket and o-ring was brittle and broken. The oil was leaking onto the top of the exhaust pipe and flowing down the belly of the airplane. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The National Transporation Safety Board investigator-in-charge released the wreckage to the owner's representative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6127Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6127Q-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N D-7569, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech S35 - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D7569 - Airframe hours: 5650 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2ED 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2003, 20 hours before - Departed: 71V, MONUMENT VALLEY, UT - Destination: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 18, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg ## 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 20040605013049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040605013049A), Jun 5, 2004: Beech S35, Flagstaff, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed kayenta airport enroute to Flagstaff. During cruise flight pilot noticed a reduction in manifold pressure. He stated that he added more… 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.