Sunday, August 12, 2018

Loss of Engine Power (Total): Beech A36TC Bonanza, N136RM; fatal accident occurred August 12, 2018 near Whiteman Airport (KWHP), Los Angeles, California

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Van Nuys, California
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama

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/136RM


Location: Sylmar, CA
Accident Number: WPR18FA219
Date & Time: 08/12/2018, 1345 PDT
Registration: N136RM
Aircraft: Beech A36TC
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On August 12, 2018, about 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36TC airplane, N136RM, impacted terrain near Sylmar, California, after declaring an emergency while approaching Whiteman Airport (WHP), Los Angeles, California. The private pilot was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to the pilot, who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Placerville Airport, (PVF), Placerville, California, about 1200 and was destined for WHP.

Review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control transcripts revealed that, as the pilot was descending through 3,700 ft, and just after being instructed to contact the WHP tower controller, he made a mayday call. The pilot reported that the airplane was descending and that he was looking for a place to land. He stated that he was unable to make WHP because he had "no throttle, no engine at all."

Witnesses reported that they saw the airplane flying southbound about 30 to 40 ft above the interstate when it turned east and descended below terrain into a nearby field.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 55, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/14/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/03/2016
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 478 hours (Total, all aircraft), 148 hours (Total, this make and model), 441 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N136RM
Model/Series: A36TC
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1980
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: EA97
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/15/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 52 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3870.66 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: TSIO-520-UB
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 300
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: VNY, 802 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1351 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 190°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 140°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Placerville, CA (PVF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Whiteman, CA (WHP)
Type of Clearance: VFR Flight Following
Departure Time: 1200 PDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Whiteman Airport (WHP)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 1003 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Vegetation
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None 
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.295556, -118.469167 

The airplane came to rest in a field east of and adjacent to the interstate. The first identified point of impact was a strip of disturbed dirt with a fragment of grey paint. About halfway through the length of the disturbed dirt strip and to the right of the strip of dirt, was a paralleling disturbed strip of dirt, followed by a large disturbed area and the nose landing gear strut. Next, there was an approximate 80-ft section of mostly undisturbed grass with pieces of plexiglass, the left wingtip, and nose gear landing door scattered throughout the area. The main wreckage was located at the end of the debris path. The forward fuselage was heavily damaged; the airplane's engine, firewall, and instrument panel were fractured from the right side of the fuselage and bent to the left of the airplane; and the engine came to rest upside down. The front seats were exposed, and the remaining cabin area was mostly intact. The left wing was bent aft at the root and fractured midspan. The outboard section was bent aft underneath the inboard section and came to rest with the leading edge facing aft. The aft fuselage and empennage were mostly intact and undamaged. The right wing was mostly whole; however, the rear spar was fractured at the root and the forward portion of the wing was bent downward.

Examination of the airframe revealed flight control continuity throughout the airframe. The flaps were in the retracted position, and the landing gear was in the extended position. About 12 gallons of fuel was removed from the right wing, and fuel was observed exiting the breached left main fuel tank during the recovery process. The fuel selector faceplate was fracture separated. The fuel selector was removed from the airframe and air was blown through the selector; it was positioned to the left main fuel tank.

The engine remained mostly intact; the spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal operating signatures. The engine was rotated by hand and continuity was noted to the aft cylinders; in addition, the magnetos' distributor gears rotated. Borescope examination of the engine revealed normal operating signatures. The engine was prepared for shipment to the manufacturer for further examination.

Due to impact-related damage, the engine could not be test run. A teardown examination of the engine revealed no pre-accident anomalies that would have precluded the production of rated power. The crankshaft was fractured aft of the propeller flange. The spark plugs, cylinders, and piston heads were removed and exhibited normal operating signatures. The turbocharger was removed and no scoring was noted on the impeller housing. The fuel pump sustained impact damage and could not be tested; all internal components exhibited normal operating wear signatures. The crankcase was split and the crankshaft, camshaft, piston arms, and journals were oily and did not exhibit abnormal or thermal signatures. The magnetos were removed and operated normally when installed onto a test bench. Both the throttle body/fuel metering unit and the fuel manifold operated when installed onto test benches. 

Medical And Pathological Information

The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, Los Angeles, California, performed an autopsy of the pilot and determined the cause of death to be blunt trauma.


The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot with positive results for fexofenadine, losartan, and azacyclonol, none of which are considered a hazard to flight safety.

Location: Sylmar, CA
Accident Number: WPR18FA219
Date & Time: 08/12/2018, 1345 PDT
Registration: N136RM
Aircraft: Beech A36TC
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On August 12, 2018, about 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36TC airplane, N136RM, collided with terrain near Sylmar, California, after declaring an emergency while approaching the Whiteman Airport (WHP), Los Angeles, California. The private pilot was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Placerville Airport (PVF), Placerville, California about 1200 and was destined for WHP.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that while the airplane was approaching the WHP airport, the pilot declared an emergency indicating problems with the airplane's engine. An air traffic controller cleared the pilot to land at either WHP or the nearby Van Nuys Airport (VNY). The pilot did not respond and no further transmissions were received from the pilot.

Witnesses reported they observed the airplane flying south over an interstate. The airplane was flying low when it started a right turn, but then turned left and descended below a hillside.

The airplane was moved to a secure location for further examination. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N136RM
Model/Series: A36TC
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
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: VNY, 802 ft msl
Observation Time: 1351 PDT
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 12°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 140°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Departure Point: Placerville, CA (PVF)
Destination: Whiteman, CA (WHP) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude:  34.295556, -118.469167






SYLMAR (CBSLA) — Federal investigators combed through the wreckage Monday of a small plane that crashed into a Sylmar field, killing the pilot.

Scott Frazier Watson, 55, of Marina Del Rey, was killed when his plane crashed into a field right alongside the 5 Freeway in Sylmar Sunday afternoon. The father of three was pronounced dead at the scene.

Several motorists on the freeway reportedly stopped and ran down the freeway to try to help the pilot before emergency services arrived. Traffic on the northbound 5 and 405 freeways ground to a slow crawl because the crash could be seen from the freeway.

Watson’s daughter, Katie, said her father had his pilot’s license for about 15 to 20 years and that he was returning home to the Van Nuys Airport from a weekend trip.

Watson, who was called by relatives as a computer genius who worked his way up to become head of technology for Disney Engineering, had made a mayday call for help, but it’s not known what was wrong with the plane.

Bob Weis, president, Walt Disney Imagineering, released a statement saying that the company was “stunned and saddened by the loss of our long-time friend and colleague.” The statement continued, saying that “those of us who worked with Scott during his nearly 30-year career at Disney knew him as a humble genius who made making magic look easy.”

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were on the scene Monday to look through the wreckage of the plane.


https://losangeles.cbslocal.com






SYLMAR, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A single-engine plane crashed into a field near the 5 Freeway in Sylmar on Sunday afternoon, killing the pilot who was the only occupant.

The plane went down in the 12600 block of Encinitas Avenue, near the 405 and 5 freeways, around 1:50 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Officials say it appears the plane may have had an in-flight emergency and the pilot may have looked at setting down on the freeway, but it was too crowded.

Good Samaritans rushed over to the site of the crash and tried to help the pilot but were unable to get him out. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life extricate him from the wreckage and attempted CPR but were unable to save him.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are en route to investigate the cause of the crash.

Story and video ➤ https://abc7.com






A pilot died after his airplane crashed near the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon.

The pilot was reportedly trapped in the wreckage after the small, fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft crashed in a field adjacent to the interstate at 12600 Encinitas Ave. in Sylmar, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The Beechcraft BE33 aircraft crashed under "unknown circumstances" about 5 miles north of Van Nuys Airport around 1:45 p.m., Federal Aviation Administration Public Affairs Manager Ian Gregor said.

Rescuers managed to pull the man from the plane, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the LAFD said.

The airplane is registered to Scott Watson, of Marina Del Rey, and was manufactured in 1980, according to FAA records. Authorities have not yet said whether Watson was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.

The crash did not spark a fire, damage structures or cause any other injuries, the LAFD said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is overseeing the investigation.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.nbclosangeles.com





Update Aircraft Down 08/12/2018 INC#0772 

Update Aircraft Down; INC#0772; 2:10PM; Field near 12600 Encinitas Av; Sylmar; Only patient and only apparent occupant of the Beechcraft A320 single engine aircraft was an adult male pilot who was trapped in wreckage (since freed) but is now deceased at scene; There are no other injuries; No fire; No structures damaged; All further inquiries to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which will be overseeing the investigation; FS 75; Batt 12; Valley Bureau; Council District 7; Dispatched LAFD Units: BC12 CM42 E18 E275 E290 E474 E75 E90 E91 EM15 H6 HR3 RA75 RA90 RA91 T75 T90 UR88; - Brian Humphrey