# NTSB SEA00LA005: Beech S35, N8811M, Melstone, MT, October 21, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 1999, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Melstone, MT - Coordinates: 46.569374, -107.92958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5694&lon=-107.9296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47700/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA005 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Analysis The pilot reported that while en route, the engine started to miss. The pilot attempted to trouble-shoot the problem with no success. The pilot opted to divert to a private airstrip that he was unfamiliar with so he set-up for a short field landing. While on short final, the engine missed and the airplane descended in altitude. The altitude was insufficient for the pilot to push the nose down, so the pilot opted to try and arrest the sink rate. The airplane settled to the ground and landed hard about 25 to 50 feet short of the airstrip, collapsing the landing gear. The engine was first inspected, the prepared for an engine run. The engine started on the first attempt and ran smoothly. The magnetos, mixture and fuel pressure were checked and all were found within normal operating parameters. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 1999, at 1400 mountain daylight time, a Beech S35, N8811M, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collapsed the landing gear on touchdown at the Roberts Ranch Airstrip, located about six miles northeast of Melstone, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed from Billings, Montana, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that while en route to Glascow, Montana, the engine started missing. The pilot attempted to trouble-shoot the problem with no success. The pilot decided to land the aircraft and circled the Melstone area to locate the airport. The pilot was unable to find the airport at Melstone and diverted to Roberts Ranch, a private airstrip. The pilot was unsure of the airstrips condition and set-up for a short field landing. While on short final, the engine missed and the airplane descended in altitude. The altitude was insufficient for the pilot to push the nose down, so the pilot opted to try and arrest the sink rate. The airplane settled to the ground and landed hard about 25 to 50 feet short of the airstrip, collapsing the landing gear. During an engine inspection, all three propeller blades were found loose in the hub. The blade tips were curled aft with heavy chordwise scoring and leading edge gouges. The crankshaft rotated easily with compression developed in each cylinder. Spark was obtained from all top ignition leads. All of the spark plugs were removed. It was noted that the number four top, and number one bottom plugs were black with carbon. Normal operating signatures were noted to the remaining spark plugs. The fuel manifold valve screen was clean and the diaphragm was intact. The engine was then prepared for an engine run. The propeller was replaced and a fuel supply was added. The engine started on the first attempt, and the rpm was increased to 2,100 rpm. The magnetos, mixture and fuel pressure were checked. All were within normal operating parameters and the engine ran smoothly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Hard landing, landing ## Aircraft - Registration: N8811M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech S35 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7333 - Airframe hours: 3660 - Engines: Continental IO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger D. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1999, 15 hours before - Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT - Destination: GGW, GLASCOW, MT - Airport: Roberts Ranch ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 525 total, 105 in this make and model, 420 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BIL, 70 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 19991021047639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991021047639A), Oct 21, 1999: Beech S35, Roundup, MT, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot reported that while en route, the engine started to miss. The pilot attempted to trouble-shoot the problem with no success. The pilot opted to… 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.