Pilot Debrief

BEECH A36 near Tooele, UT — 2021-11-24

Final reportWPR22LA064
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Date
2021-11-24
Location
Tooele, UT, USA
Aircraft
BEECH A36
Registration
N4370W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he began a descent to pattern altitude at the destination airport. When he reduced the propeller speed to 2,200 rpm, a “slapping sort of knock began as well as a shimmy in the plane.” The pilot arrested the descent, observed that the oil temperature and oil pressure were normal, and looked outside the airplane to verify that the flight control surfaces had no issues. The pilot then noticed that the airspeed had decreased to 130 miles per hour and that the controls became “heavy and very mushy.” The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby road but abandoned that plan when he observed a vehicle traveling on the road. The pilot advanced the propeller and throttle levers full forward but received no response from the engine, and he noticed that the cylinder head temperature gauge had “dropped completely to the left.” The pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid power lines and landed in an open desert area. During the landing, the airplane struck trees, impacted terrain, and came to rest at a nose-low attitude. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Utilizing the reported fuel quantity at the time of departure and fuel burn rate for the reported power setting, it was determined that the pilot had an adequate amount of fuel for the intended flight. As a result, the reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before initiating descent.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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