Pilot Debrief

SOCATA TBM near Lost Hills, CA — 2010-05-23

Final reportWPR10LA260
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Date
2010-05-23
Location
Lost Hills, CA, USA
Airport
L84
Aircraft
SOCATA TBM
Registration
N750AB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point on the runway, which led to the runway overrun.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point on the runway, which led to the runway overrun.

NTSB narrative

During the takeoff initial climb, the pilot reported that the rudder trim became deflected to the left and remained stuck in that position. He stopped the climb, cycled the autopilot, and turned off the yaw damper; however, his efforts did not resolve the rudder trim deflection issue. The pilot input rudder in an attempt to correct the issue, and he thought that the airplane was under control, so he continued the flight to his destination. The avionics failed shortly thereafter, followed by the illumination of the low fuel pressure light. Then the engine lost power. The pilot feathered the propeller and was able to reach an airport for an emergency landing. During the landing, the airplane floated down the runway, touching down about midfield. The pilot was not able to stop the airplane before it exited the runway and collided with terrain. Postaccident, the rudder trim tab was found deflected two inches to the left. However, the rudder trim indicator showed a full deflection to the right. The circuit breaker was found partially open and was recycled, as indicated in the pilot’s operating handbook for rudder trim emergencies, and the anomaly could not be replicated. Postaccident examination also found 90 gallons of fuel in the right tank and no fuel in the left tank. However, this airplane is equipped with a fuel autobalance system, which should have selected fuel to be fed from the right tank with the left tank empty. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined during postaccident testing and examination.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have requested assistance from ATC earlier to address issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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