# NTSB WPR17LA058: Beech E17L, N41663, Discovery Bay, WA, January 24, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 24, 2017, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Discovery Bay, WA - Coordinates: 48.002777, -122.86 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0028&lon=-122.8600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 94645 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94645/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94645 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA058 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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 E17L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1150556), [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. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech E17L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1150556), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech E17L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1150556), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after departure for the local flight, he maneuvered the airplane along the shoreline, and the airplane reached about 900 ft above ground level. The fuel pressure then dropped to zero, and the low-pressure light illuminated. The pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel pump; however, the pressure remained at zero. The pilot attempted to restart the engine and switched tanks again, to no avail. He ditched the airplane in the bay, and the airplane became submerged after impact. After the airplane was recovered, the pilot removed the top wings, which revealed water in the fuel tanks. Due to the submersion of the airplane, it could not be determined if water was in the fuel tanks before the accident, and the fuel system could not be examined. The pilot also noticed that the ground wire on the electric pump was loose; however, it could not be determined if the loose wire was a result of impact. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 24, 2017, about 1430 Pacific standard time, a Beech E17L airplane, N41663, experienced a loss of engine power and was subsequently ditched in Discovery Bay, Washington. The airline transport pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local area flight departed from Jefferson County International Airport, Port Townsend, Washington, about 1415. The pilot stated that following departure, he maneuvered along the shoreline and the airplane reached about 900 ft above ground level (agl). The fuel pressure dropped to zero and the low-pressure light illuminated. The pilot switched the fuel selector from a top tank to the main tank and activated the fuel pump. The pressure remained at zero. The pilot attempted to restart the engine and switched tanks again, to no avail. He opted to ditch in the water and avoid the tall trees on land. The airplane touched down in the saltwater and became submerged, sustaining damage to the lower wing. The Beech E17L Staggerwing, serial number (s/n) 196, was originally manufactured in 1936. The pilot purchased the airplane in 2001 and had accumulated about 250 hours of flight time in it. The airplane was equipped with a Jacobs R755B2 engine, s/n 11939. The last airframe maintenance was an annual inspection that reported as being completed in September 2016 at a total airframe time of 3,355 hours. The engine had amassed a total time of 916 hours. The pilot recalled that prior to departure he had 66 gallons of fuel onboard. After the airplane was recovered, he removed the top wings. He found about 3-4 gallons of water and fuel (small amount) in the upper right wing and only water in the upper left wing. Due to the submersion of the airplane, it could not be determined if water was in the fuel tank prior to the accident and the fuel system could not be examined. The pilot additionally noticed that the ground wire on the electric pump was loose, but was unsure if it was a result of the impact and thought that the engine-driven fuel pump should have still been operational. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41663](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41663), registered now, S/N 196 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E17L (L) - Registry model: [Beech E17L](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e17l) (registry code 1150556) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs L6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-l6) (registry code 35005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 196 - Year built: 1937 - Airframe hours: 3355 - Engines: JACOBS R755B2 330 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2016, 2 hours before - Departed: 0S9, PORT TOWNSEND, WA - Destination: 0S9, PORT TOWNSEND, WA - Airport: 0S9, Jefferson County Intl - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KNRA, 16 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 20170124002589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170124002589A), Jan 24, 2017: Beechcraft E17L, Discovery Bay, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported maneuvering at approximately 900 feet and climbing over an uncongested area and returning to airport of departure for landing when fuel pressure… ## Other investigations on N41663 (1) 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 LAX71FUQ80](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71FUQ80), May 9, 1971: Beech E17L (N41663), San Frnando, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94645. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Records of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Records%20of%20Conversations-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.