# NTSB WPR15CA033: Beech A35, N149DS, Havasu City, AZ, November 5, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 5, 2014, 11:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Havasu City, AZ - Coordinates: 34.48389, -113.921386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4839&lon=-113.9214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 90357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90357/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90357 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA033 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to properly operate the fuel selector valve. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech A35, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was level cruise at 10,500 feet mean sea level, when he moved the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank. The airplane was equipped with the Beech fuel selector valve disengagement warning light kit. The fuel selector is a combined fuel pump and valve assembly. The handle can be lifted up and down to pump fuel, but in this condition it is not engaged with the selector valve portion of the assembly. When the fuel selector handle and the fuel valve do not agree, the red 'fuel' light illuminates. When the pilot selected the left tank the red 'fuel' light illuminated. He cross checked the fuel flow and fuel pressure, both of which were in the normal range. A few minutes later he entered an en-route descent, when the engine began to lose power. He pumped the fuel pump, the red 'fuel' light remained ON, and the engine did not regain power. The pilot executed a forced landing onto a road and damaged the left wing during the landing roll. A post accident examination of the airplane was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a technical representative from the airplane manufacturer. The fuel selector valve was found to operate as designed. The red 'fuel' light illuminated when the fuel selector handle was not engaged with the valve and aligned with the fuel tank that provides fuel to the engine. Additionally, the engine was test run and found to operate normally. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was level cruise at 10,500 feet mean sea level, when he moved the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank. The airplane was equipped with the Beech fuel selector valve disengagement warning light kit. The fuel selector is a combined fuel pump and valve assembly. The handle can be lifted up and down to pump fuel, but in this condition it is not engaged with the selector valve portion of the assembly. When the fuel selector handle and the fuel valve do not agree, the red 'fuel' light illuminates.When the pilot selected the left tank the red 'fuel' light illuminated. He cross checked the fuel flow and fuel pressure, both of which were in the normal range. A few minutes later he entered an en-route descent, when the engine began to lose power. He pumped the fuel pump, the red 'fuel' light remained ON, and the engine did not regain power. The pilot executed a forced landing onto a road and damaged the left wing during the landing roll. A post accident examination of the airplane was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a technical representative from the airplane manufacturer. The fuel selector valve was found to operate as designed. The red 'fuel' light illuminated when the fuel selector handle was not engaged with the valve and aligned with the fuel tank that provides fuel to the engine. Additionally, the engine was test run and found to operate normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N149DS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N149DS), registered now, S/N D-2152, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A35 (NO SERIES) - 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-2152 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 6282 - Engines: Continental E-185-11 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Buffaloe Thomas N - Registered owner: Buffaloe Thomas N - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 2014, 10 hours before - Departed: KCEZ, Cortez, CO - Destination: P20, Parker, AZ - Airport: KHII, Lake Havasu City - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 2, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,044 total, 24 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KHII, 25 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 20141105022569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141105022569A), Nov 5, 2014: Beech A35, Substantial damage. Pilot states engine stopped producing power 15 minutes after switching tanks. Aircraft made an emergency landing 25 miles se of lake Havasu airport. The… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90357. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420550&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420551&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Textron Aviation Email (item 4, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Textron%20Aviation%20Email-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Fuel Selector Handle (Photo Courtesy of Textron Aviation) (item 6, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Fuel%20Selector%20Handle%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Textron%20Aviation)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Red Fuel Light Illuminated (item 7, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420554&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Red%20Fuel%20Light%20Illuminated-Master.PDF 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.