# NTSB MIA03LA028: Beech A36, N12MB, Laurens, SC, December 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 15, 2002, 11:14 local (16:14 UTC) - Place: Laurens, SC - Coordinates: 34.511665, -81.949996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5117&lon=-81.9500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56203 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56203/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA028 ## Probable cause Improper maintenance and inspection of the airplane by other maintenance personnel, and their failure to install the fuel line support after maintenance had been completed, which resulted in the introduction of vibrational loads and the in-flight separation of the fuel line from the fuel flow transmitter, fuel starvation, the subsequent loss of engine power, an emergency descent/ landing, and damage to the airplane during the off airport landing. ## 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 - normal - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - not installed - fuel system,line fitting - vibration - fuel system,line fitting - separation - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he reached an altitude of 7,000 feet and leveled the airplane, when all of a sudden he felt a slight bump, and the engine immediately lost all power. He performed emergency procedures, but the engine did not regain power. While performing emergency procedures, he said he noticed fuel streaming from the area of the cowling, aft toward the windshield, so he committed himself to making a forced landing. The pilot executed a forced landing in an area of low pine trees and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The FAA inspector stated that postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the stainless steel fuel line at the front top side of the engine had separated from the fuel flow transmitter, consistent with the pilot's report of the loss of engine power, and fuel streaming out the top of the cowling. The inspector said that the fitting on the fuel flow transmitter showed signs of fretting, and had been cracked, allowing fuel pressure to cause the hose to back off the o-ringed nipple. In addition, the support standoff that attaches the fuel line to the top alternator mount so as to provide support for the fuel line, was not attached, and had been subject to vibration loads, causing the fitting to separate from the fuel flow transmitter. Maintenance records indicate that the alternator had been replaced by a maintenance facility 26.6 hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On December 15, 2002, about 1114 eastern standard time, a Beech A-36, N12MB, registered to a private individual, and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in Laurens, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and three passengers were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Greer, South Carolina, the same day, about 1100. The pilot stated that he had been in contact with FAA Greenville Spartanburg Departure Control, and was cleared to climb to an altitude of 7,000 feet. Upon reaching 7,000 feet, he said he leveled the airplane, when all of a sudden he felt a slight bump, and the engine immediately lost all power. He performed emergency procedures, but the engine did not regain power. While performing emergency procedures, he said he noticed fuel streaming from the area of the cowling, aft toward the windshield, so he committed himself to making a forced landing. The pilot executed a forced landing in an area of low pine trees and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The FAA inspector stated that upon examination of the engine, it was discovered that the stainless steel fuel line at the front top side of the engine had separated from the fuel flow transmitter. The inspector said that the separation was consistent with the pilot's report of the loss of engine power, and fuel streaming out the top of the couling. According to the inspector, the fitting on the fuel flow transmitter showed signs of fretting, and had been cracked, allowing fuel pressure to cause the hose to back off the o-ringed nipple. In addition, the inspector said that the support standoff that attaches the fuel line to the top alternator mount so as to provide support for the fuel line, was not attached, and had been subject to vibration loads, which caused the fitting to separate from the fuel flow transmitter. Maintenance records indicate that the alternator had been replaced by a maintenance facility 26.6 hours prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12MB-2009-08-18), registration cancelled 2009-08-18, S/N E-2371, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E2371 - Airframe hours: 2268 - Engines: Teledyne Continental 10-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marie L. Barker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 2002, 15 hours before - Departed: GSP, Greer, SC - Destination: CHS, Laurens, SC - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 2, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 5,480 total, 740 in this make and model, 5,480 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: GSP, 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 20021215036159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021215036159A), Dec 15, 2002: Beech A36, Laurins, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft departed gsp on an IFR flight plan to chs. At about 15 miles southeast of the gsp the pilot reported losing engine power and fuel leaking… 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.