Pilot Debrief

BEECH 35-B33 near Lone Pine, CA — 2013-07-28

Final reportWPR13LA346
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Date
2013-07-28
Location
Lone Pine, CA, USA
Airport
KO26
Aircraft
BEECH 35-B33
Registration
N82182
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to not execute the "Engine Failure After Liftoff" emergency procedures outlined in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to not execute the "Engine Failure After Liftoff" emergency procedures outlined in the Pilot's Operating Handbook.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he performed a full preflight and engine run-up before departure. He leaned the fuel mixture for takeoff, and the auxiliary fuel pump switch was in the "off" position. After takeoff, at 300 ft above ground level, the pilot noticed that the airplane was not climbing normally and had entered a slight descent. The engine then began to sputter. The pilot stated that he did not have time to execute the "Engine Failure After Liftoff" procedures outlined in the Pilot's Operating Handbook. He performed a gear-up, forced landing straight ahead onto flat, desert terrain. After the airplane stopped, the pilot noticed a fire emanating from the left wing. The three passengers egressed through the right cabin door, and the pilot followed. The fire spread and subsequently engulfed most of the airplane's cabin before firefighters arrived and put it out. A postaccident examination of the fuel system and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, if the pilot had executed the applicable emergency procedures, the engine might have regained power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not turn on the auxiliary fuel pump before takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents11

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