RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY G36 near Porterville, CA — 2008-11-27
- Date
- 2008-11-27
- Location
- Porterville, CA, USA
- Airport
- PTV
- Aircraft
- RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY G36
- Registration
- N936EW
- Category
- Airplane
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Fatalities
- 0
- Phase of flight
- Approach
Probable cause
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
NTSB narrative
During an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, the flight entered the ground fog layer at 1,300 feet mean sea level (msl) and continued descending to the minimum descent altitude of 980 feet msl. Upon reaching the minimum descent altitude, the pilot asked his passengers if "they saw anything." The pilot stated that he "saw a few breaks." As the airplane neared the missed approach point, the pilot further reported that he declared a missed approach and applied full power. He stated that the engine did not respond and made an unusual sound "like a car would make if its automatic transmission would not grab." The pilot added that he was not getting power and briefed his passengers to brace themselves. Shortly thereafter, the airplane struck trees and the ground within an orange orchard. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller assemblies revealed no related preimpact mechanical anomalies.
Analysis
- Primary failure mode
- Engine power loss
- First missed decision gate
- Pilot could have aborted the approach earlier when engine power loss was first noted.
NTSB coding
Evidence available
- Photos
- 10 docket documents
Docket documents10
- Pilot Statementinterview
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigationinterview
- Airframe Examination Notesother
- Passenger - Record of Conversation (Courtesy of the FAA)other
- Pilot - Record of Conversation (Courtesy of the FAA)other
- Photo 1: View of the main wreckage. (Courtesy of the FAA)photos
- Photo 2: View of the main wreckage. (Courtesy of the FAA)photos
- Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Hartzell Propellers Inc.report
- Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Onticreport
- Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Teledyne Continental Motorsreport
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