The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Houston, Texas
Accident Number: CEN21LA176
Date & Time: April 3, 2021, 07:35 Local
Registration: N5240C
Aircraft: Beech B35
Injuries: 4 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On April 3, 2021, about 0735 central daylight time, a Beech B35, N5240C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pearland, Texas. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that he purchased the airplane in October 2020. Since then, the airplane has undergone extensive maintenance in attempt to troubleshoot excessive engine RPM. The day before the accident, the airplane flew uneventfully; the pilot also had a mechanic check over airplane one last time.
On the day of the accident, the pilot conducted a thorough preflight and runup with no anomalies noted. He then increased the engine to full power and started the takeoff roll on the short, grassy runway. The RPM indicator showed full power, however, the airplane was not accelerating as fast as normal. At 75 knots he rotated the airplane but noted that the RPM was about 2,300 and decreasing. Unable to set the airplane back onto the short runway, he flew the airplane in ground effect until it accelerated to about 85 knots. He pitched up to climb, but the engine RPM continued to decrease to about 1,900. Unable to climb above powerlines at the end of the runway, he positioned the airplane to fly beneath them and initiated a precautionary landing to a field. During the descent, the airplane’s right wing impacted a tree about 15 ft above the ground; shortly thereafter, the airplane landed on its belly and slid to a stop.
During the accident sequence the right wing was substantially damaged. The airplane has been recovered for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N5240C
Model/Series: B35
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LVJ,44 ft msl
Observation Time: 07:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 14°C /10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 30°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3800 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.36 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Pearland, TX
Destination: San Antonio, TX (SKF)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 3 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: Aircraft
Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 4 None
Latitude, Longitude: 29.555789,-95.327993
