# NTSB WPR19LA039: Beech 36, N361TC, Los Banos, CA, December 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 6, 2018, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Los Banos, CA - Coordinates: 37.063888, -120.86972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0639&lon=-120.8697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98742/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98742 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA039 ## Probable cause A partial 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 A36TC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151603), [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. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After almost 1 hour of flight, the pilot turned onto the left base leg of the traffic pattern at the destination airport, where he intended to practice takeoffs and landings. During the turn, the engine began to sputter. The pilot turned toward the runway and tried to maintain clearance from trees located on the outside of the airport perimeter fence; however, the propeller and landing gear impacted the fence. The airplane came to rest upright about 5 ft from the runway edge, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies. The fuel selector handle had been removed, but the rod that rotated the valve remained intact and attached to the unit. The fuel selector was disassembled, and the ring was found located between detents. Based on its position, it may have been positioned between the left- and right-wing tip tanks; however, the position of the fuel selector at the time of the loss of engine power could not be determined. The pilot reported that there were 74 gallons of fuel onboard at the time of departure; however, neither the distribution of the fuel nor the fuel onboard at the time of the accident was determined. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2018, at 1230 Pacific standard time, a Beech A36TC airplane, N361TC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Los Banos, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed about 1145 and reported that he planned to practice landings at the destination airport. He entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at the destination, and as he made the left base turn, the engine began to sputter. The pilot turned toward the runway and tried to maintain clearance from trees located on the outside of the airport perimeter fence; however, the propeller and landing gear impacted the fence. The airplane came to rest upright about 5 ft from the runway edge, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies. The fuel selector handle had been removed, but the rod that rotated the valve remained intact and attached to the unit. The fuel selector was disassembled, and the ring was found located between detents. Based on its position, it may have been positioned between the left- and right-wing tip tanks; however, the position of the fuel selector at the time of the loss of engine power could not be determined. The pilot reported that there were 74 gallons of fuel onboard at the time of departure; however, neither the distribution of the fuel, nor the fuel onboard at the time of the accident, were determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N361TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N361TC-2022-10-05), registration cancelled 2022-10-05, S/N EA-139, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 36 (A36TC) - Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: EA-139 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 2813.4 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B-RA 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 2017 - Departed: RHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: LSN, Los Banos, CA - Airport: LSN, Los Banos Muni, runway 32, 3,801 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 577 total, 184 in this make and model, 534 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KCVH, 28 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 20181206023309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181206023309A), Dec 6, 2018: Beech A36TC, Los Banos, CA, Substantial damage. While starting the left base turn to rwy 30 at lsn, a flight that originated from rhv, aircraft engine lost power and the aircraft stuck the airport parameter… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98742. 14.3 MB in all. - Engine data monitor - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8863243&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to engine data monitor specialist's factual report (item 2, CSV, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8863451&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.csv - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13785468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination (NTSB) (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13785196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20WPR19LA039_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt aircraft records (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13785090&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13785604&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA039%20Wreckage%20Release%20JPI_Redacted-Rel.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.