# NTSB SEA96LA181: Beech 35, N2839V, Spokane, WA, August 1, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 1996 - Place: Spokane, WA - Coordinates: 47.65929, -117.429176 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6593&lon=-117.4292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42439 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42439/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA181 ## Probable cause failure (cracking) of the aft fuselage bulkhead for undetermined reason(s). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - fuselage,bulkhead - cracked - empennage - vibration ## Analysis About five minutes after takeoff, at 6,500 feet, the 1947 model airplane was cruising at 160 to 165 knots, when it encountered turbulence and experienced an airframe vibration. The pilot reduced airspeed, which eliminated the vibration, then he landed without further incident. Subsequent examination revealed that the fuselage station 256.9 bulkhead, located directly below the leading edge of the V-tail, was cracked at all four corners. Further investigation revealed that the airplane's ruddervators had been removed in 1995 for reskinning due to corrosion. Reskinning was accomplished with Beech factory replacement skins, and the ruddervators were then painted with several layers of paint. This necessitated the installation of an additional one-pound (lead) weight on the outboard tip of each ruddervator to achieve correct control surface balance. Also, the pilot stated that he could not be sure whether the station 256.9 bulkhead was damaged in flight, or when the ruddervator contacted a hangar support beam as the airplane was being pushed in a hangar. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 1996, a Beech 35, N2839V, encountered turbulence and experienced a subsequent airframe vibration at 160 to 165 knots airspeed and 6,500 feet altitude approximately five minutes after takeoff from Felts Field, Spokane, Washington, en route to Colville, Washington. The private pilot, who was not injured in the occurrence, reduced airspeed (which eliminated the vibration) and returned to Felts Field, where he landed without further incident. A subsequent airframe examination revealed that the fuselage station 256.9 bulkhead, located directly below the leading edge of the V-tail, was cracked at all four corners. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector from Spokane, Washington, that visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the turbulence encounter. The time of the occurrence was not reported. The FAA aircraft registry indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1947. FAA inspectors determined that the aircraft's ruddervators were removed in 1995 for reskinning due to corrosion. Reskinning was accomplished with Beech factory replacement skins and the ruddervators were then painted with several layers of paint, necessitating an additional pound of lead weight to be added to the outboard tip of each ruddervator in order to achieve correct control surface balance. Discussions with the Spokane FAA inspector assigned to the accident indicated that the one-pound weights were installed in addition to the parts specified by the aircraft maintenance manual for balancing the ruddervators, and were not an approved installation per the aircraft maintenance manual. The aircraft maintenance manual allows up to 11 lead washers of unspecified weight to be used in balancing the ruddervators. The Spokane FAA inspector reported that an examination of the ruddervators revealed them to be correctly balanced with the non-approved one-pound weights installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2839V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2839V-2020-06-26), registration cancelled 2020-06-26, S/N D-244, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 - Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-244 - Airframe hours: 6212 - Engines: Continental E-185-11 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: A-1 Aero Sales Of Spokane - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1996, 56 hours before - Departed: SFF, WA - Destination: 63S, COLVILLE, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 698 total, 680 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Not reported ## 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 19960801045229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960801045229A), Aug 1, 1996: Beech 35BEECH, Spokane, WA, Substantial damage. Encountered rough air and vibration. Returned to airport. Fuselage bulkhead at v tail cracked. Bogus rudder weights ## Other investigations on N2839V (3) 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. - [NTSB WPR19LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA171), May 3, 2019: Beech 35 (N2839V), Deer Park, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An empennage flutter event for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. - [NTSB CHI97IA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97IA122), Apr 29, 1997: Beech 35 (N2839V), Spokane, WA, incident, no damage. Probable cause: the vibration of the fuselage was due to flutter. - [NTSB SEA88LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA085), Apr 28, 1988: Beech 35 (N2839V), Pasco, WA, substantial damage 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.