Pilot Debrief

Beech 35 near Deer Park, WA — 2019-05-03

Final reportWPR19LA171
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Date
2019-05-03
Location
Deer Park, WA, USA
Airport
DEW
Aircraft
Beech 35
Registration
N2839V
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

An empennage flutter event for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after hearing the loud bang.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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