Beechcraft A36 N703KP

Summary

On 8 October 2008 at about 11:45 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N703KP, operated by Barker Michael E, was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 2008 at 11:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.6392, -97.1505

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N703KP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Barker Michael E

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pearland → Houston

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN09LA014

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to a fracture in the oil filter adapter housing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight the propeller's rpms unexpectedly increased to approximately 2,900. After an attempt to reduce the rpms via the propeller governor failed, the pilot was successful by reducing the engine throttle. Seconds later the engine began to make a "knocking noise" before complete engine power was lost. The pilot performed a forced landing to a rough field, resulting in a hard landing. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane caught fire and was fully engulfed in flames. An examination of the engine revealed that the oil filter adapter housing contained a fracture that allowed the engine oil to escape, resulting in oil starvation and a subsequent engine seizure. Reportedly this was the first flight since the airplane's annual inspection and the last oil filter change. Due to thermal damage to the oil filter adapter and oil filter, the reason for the fractured oil filter adapter could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.