- Date
- July 8, 1990, 12:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Santa Ynez, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8663ABeech A-35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900708025009A
- Case key
- 26861
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An engine failure due to fuel leakage from a ruptured diaphram in the carburetor; failure of the aircraft owner to comply with the manufacturer's recommended component overhaul intervals.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was performing 's' turns on final to allow spacing for a glider departure. As the pilot added throttle the engine failed to respond and the aircraft landed short of the runway in a hilly brush covered area. The carburetor was functionally tested to manufacturer's specifications, however, it was found to be on the rich side. Further examination of the unit revealed that fuel was leaking into the intake air section of the carburetor from a cracked rubber diaphram. According to bendix, the carburetor should be overhauled at the same time the engine is overhauled. Detailed review of the maintenance records disclosed no evidence that the carburetor was overhauled during the last engine overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8663A
- Reported as
- Beech A-35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2128
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Willis M. Hawkins
- Destination
- IZA
- Airport
- IZA · Santa Ynez, runway 26, 2,804 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 77
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 2,296 total · 268 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8663A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.