# NTSB WPR19LA171: Beech 35, N2839V, Deer Park, WA, May 3, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2019, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Deer Park, WA - Coordinates: 47.974723, -117.430557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9747&lon=-117.4306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA171 ## Probable cause An empennage flutter event 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. - [Fuselage: fuselage main structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310/cases.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings when, shortly after departure while climbing through about 400 ft above ground level in a right turn, he heard a loud bang and felt a vibration. The vibration ceased, and the pilot continued to his intended destination with no other anomalies noted. Substantial damage to the aft right fuselage was discovered during postflight inspection. Examination of the aft fuselage revealed that the fuselage skin exhibited diagonal buckling, several stringers were bent or deformed, and several bulkheads were damaged. Opposing diagonal buckles or skin fractures in an “X” pattern were noted at several locations on the fuselage skin, coincident with a stringer or bulkhead location. No obvious damage was noted to the left side of the fuselage. The damage to the airplane was consistent with an empennage flutter event; however, in the absence of additional information, the cause of the flutter event could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2019, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 35 airplane, N2839V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Deer Park, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. Shortly after departure, climbing through about 400 ft above ground level and while in a right turn, he heard a loud bang and felt a vibration. The vibration ceased and the pilot continued to his intended destination with no other anomalies noted. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane and confirmed there was no evidence a bird or object struck the airplane. Substantial damage was noted to the aft right fuselage between about fuselage station (FS) 200 and FS 256. The fuselage skin exhibited diagonal buckling, several stringers were bent or deformed, and at least three fuselage bulkheads were fractured or deformed. Opposing diagonal buckles or skin fractures in an “X” pattern were noted at several locations on the fuselage skin, coincident with a stringer or bulkhead location. There was no obvious damage noted to the left side of the fuselage. An NTSB structures engineer examined photos of the airplane damage and determined that it was consistent with an empennage flutter event. The airplane was not available for further examination, and maintenance records were not available for review. The accident airplane was involved in two previous empennage flutter events, which occurred in August 1996 and April 1997. ## 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 (Undesignat) - 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 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: Continental E185-11 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DEW, Deer Park, WA - Destination: DEW, Deer Park, WA - Airport: DEW, Deer Park - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 875 total, 835 in this make and model, 8.3 in the last 90 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F - Observed at: KDEW ## 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 20190503003849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190503003849A), May 3, 2019: Beech 35, Deer Park, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported a load bang and vibrations shortly after take-off during climbing RH turn. He slowed aircraft leveled on and landed at airport without incident.… ## 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 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 SEA96LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA181), Aug 1, 1996: Beech 35 (N2839V), Spokane, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure (cracking) of the aft fuselage bulkhead for undetermined reason(s). - [NTSB SEA88LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA085), Apr 28, 1988: Beech 35 (N2839V), Pasco, WA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99624. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11934303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA171%20Pilot%20Report%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspection statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9695348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20telcon_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - NTSB structures report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11913474&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Structures%20Report-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11913762&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.