Beechcraft 35 N4589V

Summary

On 18 January 1991 at about 19:30 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N4589V was involved in an accident near Arden, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 January 1991 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Arden, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ashville Regional (AVL)

Coordinates

35.4599, -82.5800

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N4589V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Lawrenceville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL91FA039

1 person died.

FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CRASHED. WATER WAS FOUND IN A FUEL LINE (BTN THE FUEL SELECTOR VLV AND ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP), ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP MANIFOLD, AND CARBURETOR (CARB) INLET STRAINER; HOWEVER, THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED DURING IMPACT AND FIRE SUPPRESSANT CHEMICALS WERE SPRAYED ON THE WRECKAGE. A CHECK OF THE CARB SHOWED THAT IT WAS PROVIDING A LEAN MIXTURE AT LOW POWER SETTINGS AND A RICH MIXTURE AT HI POWER SETTINGS. A TEARDOWN OF THE CARB REVEALED A CRYSTALLINE SUBSTANCE ON THE CARB DIAPHRAGM, AN IMPROPER METERING JET, AND THAT 5 SHIMS WERE INSTALLED IN THE CARB REGULATOR DIAPHRAGM SPRING MECHANISM. THE BENDIX OVERHAUL MANUAL ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF 2 SHIMS. DURING A POST-ACDNT CHECK, THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY WITH THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP ON, BUT THE ENG STOPPED RUNNING WHEN THE ELECTRIC PUMP WAS TURNED OFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.