Beechcraft C23 N6636R

Summary

On 2 May 1995 at about 18:36 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N6636R was involved in an accident near Red Bluff, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 May 1995 at 18:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Red Bluff, California, United States

Nearest airport

Red Bluff (RBL)

Coordinates

40.1296, -122.4297

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N6636R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Half Moon Bay → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA177

2 people were seriously injured.

the separation of the throttle linkage due to improper installation, and the pilot's misjudgement of the glide path necessary to reach the runway prior to shutting down the engine.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO MAKE A THROTTLE ADJUSTMENT IT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE RPM. AFTER ENTERING DOWNWIND ABEAM HIS TOUCHDOWN POINT, HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE THE REMAINDER OF THE DISTANCE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE ARM. THE BOLT, CASTELLATED NUT, AND WASHER WHICH SECURES THE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER WERE NOT PRESENT. THE ENGINE WAS REINSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT FOLLOWING A MAJOR OVERHAUL, 1 MONTH AND 2 OPERATING HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS ALSO COMPLETED AND SIGNED OFF AT THAT TIME. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE ENGINE REINSTALLATION SAID THAT THE BOLT HAD BEEN REINSTALLED AND THAT A COTTER PIN HAD ALSO BEEN INSTALLED IN THE PROCESS. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE ANNUAL INSPECTION REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT LOOKED THAT CLOSELY AT THE ENGINE SINCE IT HAD JUST BEEN INSTALLED AND INSPECTED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE ASSEMBLY DOES NOT PLACE LOADS ON THE BOLT THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE AN OVERLOAD FAILURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.