Friday, December 04, 2015

Beech D35 Bonanza, registered to and operated by the pilot, N2991B: Accident occurred December 04, 2015 near Vine Grove Airport (70KY), Hardin County, Kentucky

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville, Kentucky

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N2991B 

Location: Vine Grove, KY
Accident Number: ERA16LA062
Date & Time: 12/04/2015, 1615 EST
Registration: N2991B
Aircraft: BEECH D35
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On December 4, 2015, at 1615 eastern standard time, a Beechcraft D35, N2991B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the Vine Grove Airport (70KY), Vine Grove, Kentucky. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that his intention was to conduct some "pattern work." He conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane; visually checked the fuel in the left and right fuel tanks and estimated that they each contained 15 gallons. The airplane was equipped with a 20-gallon auxiliary fuel tank but the pilot reported that its fuel quantity could not be checked visually.

The pilot started the engine, taxied to the run-up area, and performed the before takeoff checklist items, with no anomalies noted. He then taxied to the active runway and configured the airplane for takeoff. During the climbout, about 150 feet above ground level, the engine "quit." He did not have enough altitude to return to the airport, or time to attempt an engine restart or make any radio calls. He subsequently performed an emergency off-airport landing to a road.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing and firewall were buckled. The left main wing fuel tank had an undetermined amount of fuel. Fuel samples were taken from the left main wing tank and the fuselage auxiliary tank. The samples appeared to be clear with no water or debris noted. The right wing fuel tank was breached and the fuel quick drain valve was jammed. The smell of fuel in and around the airplane was noted. The fuel selector was moved from the off position and back to the auxiliary position, and when the fuel supply line was removed from the carburetor, very little fuel exited.

The fuel strainer was removed and a very small amount of fuel came out; it was inspected and found to be free of debris. The auxiliary fuel tank drain valve was removed and about 1 gallon of fuel drained out.

A review of the D35 pilot's operating handbook (POH) revealed that the airplane was equipped with a 20-gallon fuel tank in each wing in which 34 gallons are usable. All of the fuel in the auxiliary tank was usable. The top spark plugs were removed and they exhibited normal wear and had light gray deposits in the electrode areas. The crankshaft was rotated by hand, and spark was noted on each spark plug lead.

After the examination of the airplane, the pilot reported, "The D-35 has only one fuel gage and two switches used to select the tank indicated. The fuel selector has four positions, left, right, auxiliary and off. You can have the fuel selector on the auxiliary tank and the fuel indicator on a different tank. It is possible that I mistakenly verified the fuel level in the auxiliary tank with the indicator set to one of the main tanks." The pilot stated that he did not remember which fuel tank he had selected before takeoff.

According to the limitations section of the D35 POH: "Use auxiliary fuel in level flight only and do not use for takeoff or landing. Use at least 10 gallons from left main tank before use of auxiliary fuel or right main tank."

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 53, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:  Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/03/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/04/2015
Flight Time:  956 hours (Total, all aircraft), 18 hours (Total, this make and model), 793 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 18 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: BEECH
Registration: N2991B
Model/Series: D35 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1953
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Utility
Serial Number: D-3629
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/02/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2727 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 18 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6830.48 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT:  C91  installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: E 225-8
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 225
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: FTK, 755 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1608 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 357°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Unknown
Visibility: 4 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:  Overcast / 5500 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 350°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C / 14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Light - Rain; Moderate - Mist
Departure Point: Vine Grove, KY (70KY)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Vine Grove, KY (70KY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1614 EST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: VINE GROVE (70KY)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 680 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  37.815833, -85.964722 (est)



VINE GROVE, KY (WAVE) – Vine Grove police officers are investigating after a small plane crashed near a bank.

The Beech D35 Bonanza crashed on departure from the Vine Grove airport at 4:15 p.m. Friday because of engine failure nearly 150 feet altitude, according to the FAA. The plane landed in a parking lot near Cecilian Bank. 

The pilot exited the plane without incident and refused medical treatment, according to Vine Grove Police Chief Kenneth Mattingly.

The pilot was the only person inside of the plane. No injuries were reported.

The aircraft was towed away on a flat bed truck around 7 p.m. It will be taken back to the airport to allow Vine Grove police and the FAA to investigate.

Nearly 85 homes were without power for three hours due to the plane clipping a power line during the crash.

Story, video and photo gallery: http://www.wave3.com




LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Authorities are responding to a plane crash that took place in Vine Grove, Kentucky, Friday afternoon.

According to Ken Mattingly, chief of Vine Grove Police, a Beech D35 Bonanza plane was attempting to take off from Vine Grove Airport, but lost power. 

As a result, it made a crash landing, striking some power lines, flying across a creek and coming to rest near Valley View Drive and Highland Avenue.

There were no injuries as a result of the crash. There was also no fire.

Authorities are on scene and are waiting to hear from the FAA on what to do next.

The FAA's Web site indicates that the identification number on the tail of the aircraft is registered to an owner in Centralia, Illinois.

- Source:  http://www.wdrb.com







VINE GROVE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- An emergency plane landing is shocking sight anywhere, but for people from Vine Grove, they said nothing like this ever happens in their quiet little town.

“It's amazing. I feel sorry for the pilot,” said Rodney Powell, of Vine Grove.

Fortunately, police said the pilot is okay, and he was the only one in the plane. 

His plane on the other hand—not so much.  

The plane is registered to Bradley Smith, and the Vine Grove Airport owner confirmed to WHAS11 that he was the pilot at the time of the landing. Police said he took off from the airport and reached an altitude of about 150 feet when the single engine V-Tail Bonanza lost power.

“He began to maneuver away from the area of the airport runway, and he was attempting to land on the roadway here. 

And he did not make it across and struck the embankment and slid across the road and clipped a power line and came to rest where you see him at right now,” said Chief Kenneth Mattingly, Vine Grove PD.

It may look bad, but pilots looking at this plane said this is the scene of a well-trained, experienced pilot.

“He did everything right to get it down safely and with very minimal damage compared to what it could be,” said Dennie Morris, Vine Grove Airport owner.

Morris said Smith stores his plane there, and he was watching as the plane lost power.

“I was on normal take off role, and two-thirds of the way down the runway he lost power and had really no place to go,” Morris said.

The FAA will now investigate the emergency landing, but according to Morris, the pilot's colleague and friend, today was a lucky day.

“It was scary, that's all I can say. And like I said we're very glad he handled the situation well. And everything worked out perfect,” Morris said.

Story and video: http://www.whas11.com

No comments:

Post a Comment