# NTSB SEA08LA134: Hawker Beechcraft E-55, N5885C, Coeur d'Alene, ID, May 13, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 2008, 18:50 local (May 13, 2008, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Coeur d'Alene, ID - Coordinates: 47.774166, -116.819442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7742&lon=-116.8194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67997/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA134 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) had been flying for approximately 1.4 hours when they landed at the departure airport. The CFI requested that the PUI perform a short field takeoff. During the initial climb, the left engine lost power, the CFI confirmed the fuel selectors were on the main tanks, and they force-landed the airplane and impacted a vehicle. The CFI could not recall if the right engine also lost power. According to the CFI, the airplane had been fueled to capacity two days prior to the accident and had flown 2.8 hours when the accident occurred. The CFI said that both flights were flown extensively on the auxiliary tanks, but positioned to the main tanks approximately 5 minutes prior to landing and during the takeoff. Based on the fuel capacity of the airplane, adequate fuel should have been available in the airplane to conduct the flight. However, due to damage sustained during the impact sequence, the amount of fuel in each tank could not be confirmed. Examination of the engines and fuel systems revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 2008, about 1850 Pacific daylight time, a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation B55, N5885C, collided with ground obstacles during a forced landing following a loss of power during the initial climb from Coeur d' Alene Air Terminal, Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Action Flying was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was not injured; the private pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local area instructional flight that departed about 1730. According to the CFI, he and the student were on a local instructional flight. After completing an approach into the airport, they initiated a takeoff. At approximately 200 feet above ground level, the left engine lost power. The student was flying the airplane and the CFI pushed the nose over to maintain airspeed. The CFI verified that the fuel selectors were positioned to the main tanks. He could not recall if the right engine also lost power. During the forced-landing, the airplane impacted a vehicle. In a conversation with the Safety Board investigator, the CFI indicated that the airplane's fuel tanks had been fueled to capacity on May 10. Fueling records obtained from the fueling facility at the airport indicated that 88.37 gallons of fuel were sold to the PUI on May 10 at the self-fueling facility. The CFI reported that they had flown 1.4 hours on May 10, and had flown about 1.4 hours on the day of the accident. During the last flight, they departed on the main tanks, switched to the auxiliary tanks during the flight, and then switched back to the main tanks 5 minutes prior to landing. During the flights on both days, the CFI indicated that they flew extensively on the auxiliary fuel tanks. According to the CFI, the fuel selectors were on the main tanks when the accident occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator responded to the accident scene. He reported that all of the fuel tanks were breached and residual fuel of 1 gallon was located in the right main tank. Due to the damage, the amount of fuel contained in each tank prior to the accident could not be confirmed. The fuel selectors were positioned to the main tanks. The fuel manifold valves were removed from each engine and no fuel was evident. No anomalies were noted with the airframe fuel system. A Teledyne Continental Motors representative examined the engines following the accident. No mechanical anomalies were identified that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The representative did not identify any fuel in the fuel lines to the engine fuel pumps. According to a Hawker Beechcraft Representative, pilots are to takeoff and land on the main tanks only. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5885C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5885C-2008-07-24), registration cancelled 2008-07-24, S/N TE868, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hawker Beechcraft Corporation E-55 - Registry model: [Beech E-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-55) (registry code 1152732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE868 - Airframe hours: 4869.1 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-520-B2B 285 horsepower reciprocating; Teledyne Continental IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Action Flying - Registered owner: Hamid Wasti - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2007, 8 hours before - Departed: COE, Coeur d'Alene, ID - Destination: COE, Coeur d'Alene, ID - Airport: COE, Coeur d'Alene Air Terminal, runway 05, 7,400 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 13, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 15,400 total, 503 in this make and model, 15,300 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,015 total, 8 in this make and model, 935 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: COE, 1 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 20080512836129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080512836129A), May 12, 2008: Beech E55, Hayden, ID, Destroyed. (-23) According to the PIC (instructor); "during a simulated short field takeoff, initiated from a stop and go landing with approximately 2000 feet of runway… 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.