# NTSB SEA03LA164: Beech A35, N8598A, Freeland, WA, July 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2003, 17:45 local (Jul 18, 2003, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Freeland, WA - Coordinates: 47.974445, -122.550277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9744&lon=-122.5503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57607 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57607/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA164 ## Probable cause A partially blocked fuel injector which led to an over temperature condition in the cylinders resulting in a loss of engine power during cruise flight. Sandy terrain conditions for the landing was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system,injector - blocked(partial) (cause) - engine assembly,cylinder - overtemperature (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - sand bar (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, he noted a minor shaking. The pilot performed a magneto check, enrichened the mixture, and switched fuel tanks. The shaking continued as the pilot noted a rise in oil temperature. The engine subsequently lost power and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a beach. The aircraft was substantially damaged during the gear up landing. During a post accident inspection of the engine it was found that the number three cylinder would not hold compression. The cylinder was removed and it was found that the piston head displayed severe pitting, heat distress and metal transfer from the piston to the cylinder wall. Portions of the piston were broken off as well as portions of the piston rings. The number five cylinder was also removed which displayed similar damage to the piston head, however not as severe. A fuel flow test of the fuel injectors found that the number three injector indicated a decreased fuel flow as compared to the other five. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2003, at 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A35, N8598A, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of engine power followed by a forced landing to the shoreline near Freeland, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Kent, Washington, about 20 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that while in cruise flight he noted a minor shaking. The pilot performed a magneto check, enrichened the mixture slightly, and switched fuel tanks. The shaking continued as the pilot noted a rise in oil temperature. The pilot then initiated a turn toward an alternate landing area. Immediately after this maneuver, the pilot noted a "bad smell" and contacted air traffic control for directions to an alternate airport. Unable to reach an alternate airport due to a now loss of engine power and decreasing altitude, the pilot elected to land on a beach. The pilot landed the aircraft gear up on the shoreline. The pilot, who is also a certificated Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, recovered the aircraft from the beach and transported it back to Orcas Island. Prior to Federal Aviation Administration arrival, the pilot reported that he started the engine and found that it ran rough. On August 6, 2003, Inspectors from the Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, were present during an engine teardown. During the inspection, it was found that the number three cylinder would not hold compression. During the cylinder removal, non-magnetic pieces of what appeared to be aluminum material fell out of the air induction tube. After the cylinder was removed, the piston head was noted to display severe pitting damage, heat distress and metal transfer from the piston to the cylinder wall. Portions of the piston head were broken off as well as portions of the piston rings. The number five cylinder was also removed and displayed similar damage, however not as severe. The oil filter was removed and cut open. Small metallic particles were noted within the filter. On August 22, 2003, the pilot/mechanic accomplished a fuel flow test on the fuel injectors. The pilot reported a decreased fuel flow to the number three injector as compared to the other five. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8598A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8598A-2005-12-15), registration cancelled 2005-12-15, S/N D-2036, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A35 - Registry model: [Beech A35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a35) (registry code 1151504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2036 - Airframe hours: 5133 - Engines: Continental IO-470-L 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robin G. Watson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2003, 50 hours before - Departed: S36, Kent, WA - Destination: ORS, Eastsound, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: expired; last flight review April 3, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 12,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: PAE, 11 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 20030717017879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030717017879A), Jul 17, 2003: Beech A35, Freeland, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 17, 2003, approximately 1730 pacific daylight, a Beechcraft A35 (bonanza) aircraft, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, lost engine… 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.