# NTSB MIA03LA075: Beech V35B, N35SR, Humacao, PR, March 13, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2003, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Humacao, PR - Coordinates: 18.137777, -65.800552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.1378&lon=-65.8006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56636/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA075 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane departing the left side of the runway, and impacting with a ditch. Factors in this accident were; the pilot did not follow the procedures, and deactivate the yaw damper. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flt control syst,yaw damper - not deactivated (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot reported that he landed on runway 10, and during the roll out the airplane veered to the left, and impacted with a ditch. He stated that on the downwind leg he completed a landing check, and he believed the yaw damper was "disengaged," but did not physically check to see that it was disengaged. He said just before touchdown he felt lateral directional movement, and the nose "kicked left a few degrees." He attempted to steer the airplane back to the center of the runway, but the rudder was "locked." He then realized that he did not disengage the yaw damper and attempt to correct the airplane's directional control was unsuccessful. At this point the airplane was partially off the runway and finally departed the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled through some tall weeds, and "dropped into a ditch. In addition, the pilot said he had landed with a crosswind from the left. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2003, about 1800 Atlantic standard time, a Beech V35B, N35SR, operated by an individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight struck a ditch after landing at the Humacao Airport, Humacao, Puerto Rico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot reported minor injuries, and one passenger reported serious injuries. The flight had departed from the North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida at 1015. The pilot reported that he had landed on runway 10, and during the roll out the airplane veered to the left, and impacted with a ditch. According to the pilot's statement, on climbout from North Perry Airport, he had engaged the yaw damper. About 15 miles from his destination airport he started his descent. He stated that on downwind leg he completed a landing check, and he believed the yaw damper was "disengaged," but did not physically check to see that it was disengaged. He said just before touchdown he felt lateral directional movement. On touchdown "there was a left crosswind," and the nose "kicked left a few degrees." He attempted to steer the airplane back to the center of the runway, but the rudder was "locked." At this point the airplane was partially off the runway. He said he "...poked at the yaw damper switch while pressing hard on the right rudder pedal to no avail," and finally departed the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled through some tall weeds, and "dropped into a ditch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35SR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35SR-2006-05-31), registration cancelled 2006-05-31, S/N D-10136, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10136 - Airframe hours: 2062.5 - Engines: Lycoming IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Smyth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HWO, Hollywood, FL - Destination: X63, Humacao, PR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: X63, Humacao, runway 10, 2,450 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 27, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 10,338 total, 385 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: TJSJ ## 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 20030313008089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030313008089A), Mar 13, 2003: Beech V35B, Humacoa, PR, Substantial damage. (-23) As per statement from the pilot, the pilot landed without disengaging the yaw damper resulting in loss of rudder control. Aircraft veered to the grass… 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.