Beechcraft H35 N4689D

Summary

On 22 May 2014 at about 18:30 local time, a Beechcraft H35 registered N4689D, operated by Oldham C Richard, was involved in an accident near Parker, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 May 2014 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Parker, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Avi Suquilla (P20)

Coordinates

34.1333, -114.2689

Aircraft

Beechcraft H35

Registration

N4689D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Oldham C Richard

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Quartzsite → Parker

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14LA199

Nobody was injured.

The improperly attached fuel line and cracked fuel diaphragm due to unknown personnel’s inadequate maintenance, which resulted in the loss of engine power during cruise flight and the subsequent forced landing onto rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and pilot-rated owner were operating the airplane in cruise flight when the engine lost power. They manipulated the engine and fuel controls in an attempt to regain engine power, but the engine would not restart. They subsequently conducted a forced landing onto rough terrain. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear folded underneath the airplane, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The engine was test run, and it would not maintain power unless the electric boost pump was operating. During a postrun examination of the engine, the fuel return line from the engine-driven fuel pump was found loose at the pump connection, and fuel was noted dripping from the rigid fuel line near the pump connection. The line was removed, and the "B" nut ferrule was found cracked. The "B" nut and the fuel pump fitting threads were damaged. The fuel pump and fuel control assembly were found intact, and, during a test run, functioned properly. During testing of the fuel manifold valve, a leak was observed at the vent port, indicating that the diaphragm was compromised. Based on this evidence, it is likely that the improperly attached fuel return line on the fuel pump and the leak from the fuel manifold valve led to a loss of pressure in the engine fuel delivery system, which resulted in the loss of engine power. The investigation could not determine when or by whom the maintenance was performed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.