# NTSB WPR22LA247: Beech H35, N5546D, LaCrosse, WA, July 1, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 1, 2022, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: LaCrosse, WA · Wheat field - Coordinates: 46.785972, -117.90988 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7860&lon=-117.9099&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105457/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105457 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA247 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to monitor and manage the fuel supply, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Beech H35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech H35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech H35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Beech H35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech H35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151520), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the airplane reported that, he departed with a total of 50 gallons of fuel for a cross-country flight. After about 1.5 hours, as the airplane approached the destination airport, the fuel-injected engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot switched the fuel selector valve from the right main fuel tank to the left main fuel tank and attempted to restart the engine, to no avail. The airplane impacted upsloping terrain during the forced landing, which resulted in the engine separating from the firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have resulted in the loss of engine power. According to the manufacturer, the unusable fuel in each main fuel tank is 3 gallons. The fuel recovered from the right and left main tanks were about 2 and 4 gallons, respectively. A total of about 16.5 gallons was recovered from the main and auxiliary fuel tanks combined. It is likely that the pilot did not properly monitor the fuel supply during the cross-country flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2022, about 1340 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft H35 Bonanza, N5546D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lacrosse, Washington. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed from Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO), Arlington, WA, after an extended preflight and ground run, with an intended destination of Port of Whitman Business Air Center Airport (S94), Colfax, WA. The pilot reported the airplane contained 50 gallons of fuel on departure. After about 1.5 hours, while the pilot performed his pre-landing checklist for his approach, the engine lost all power. The pilot described that the engine power loss sounded as if the engine went to idle. He then switched the fuel selector from the right to left fuel tank, applied full throttle, and increased the mixture to full rich, but the engine did not respond. Shortly after, the pilot initiated a forced landing onto a wheat field. The engine separated from the firewall and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and truss during the landing. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all flight surfaces. The fuel system was traced from each wing tank to the fuel selector, which rotated normally and was unobstructed. The right main, left main, right auxiliary, and left auxiliary tanks were not breached and had about 2 gallons, 4 gallons, 8 gallons, and 2.5 gallons, respectively. According to the manufacturer, the unusable fuel of each 20-gallon main tank is 3 gallons and there is a total of 1 gallon of unusable fuel in both auxiliary tanks combined. Mechanical continuity was established throughout the rotating group, valvetrain, and accessory section as the crankshaft was manually rotated at the propeller by hand. Thumb compression was achieved at all six cylinders and the valves displayed normal lift when the crankshaft was rotated. Examination of the cylinders’ combustion chamber using a lighted borescope revealed normal piston face and valve signatures, and no indications of catastrophic engine failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5546D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5546D), registered now, S/N D-5130, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH H35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-5130 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 3365.7 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2022, 2.4 hours before - Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: S94, Colfax, WA - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 20, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 563.1 total, 248.5 in this make and model, 466.1 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KPUW, 33 nm away - METAR: METAR KPUW 012153Z AUTO 35006KT 10SM CLR 26/09 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02610094= ## 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 20220701011579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220701011579A), Jul 1, 2022: Beech H35, Lacrosse, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from arlington WA (awo) to colfax WA (S94). Upon descent, pilot described the engine going to idle before it shutdown. Pilot attempted to change… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105457. 10.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17375296&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17375576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 930 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17336935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine exam summary (item 4, PDF, 12 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17337096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA247%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Manufacturer fuel system excerpt (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17337039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20System%20Excerpt%20H35-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17337585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form_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.