Beechcraft K35 N899RW

Summary

On 28 October 2021 at about 21:26 local time, a Beechcraft K35 registered N899RW was involved in an accident near Hammond, Louisiana, United States. 3 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

28 October 2021 at 21:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Hammond, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Hammond Northshore Regional Ai (HDC)

Coordinates

30.4789, -90.3842

Aircraft

Beechcraft K35

Registration

N899RW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1959

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA037

Nobody was injured.

A complete loss of engine power due to oil starvation as a result of the oil filter safety wire fracturing and the oil filter becoming loose in flight for a reason that could not be determined given the evidence available during the investigation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while on approach to the airport, smoke filled the cockpit and the oil pressure gauge indicated zero. Unable to make the runway, the pilot declared an emergency and turned toward a nearby interstate. During descent, the engine lost total power. The airplane touched down between traffic, and as the airplane slowed, the right wing struck a truck. The airplane swerved off the pavement and it came to rest nose down in the median. During an on-scene examination, oil was observed along the bottom and right side of the airplane. The engine cowling was removed, and oil was noted inside the cowling and on the engine components near the oil filter. The oil filter safety wire was fractured and separated allowing the oil filter to rotate freely when turned by hand. The pilot who was not a licensed mechanic performed his own oil and oil filter changes on this airplane. When asked about safety wire and how to apply it, he said he was unaware of specific safety wire guidance, he “just installed it.” It was evident that the loss of engine power resulted due to oil starvation as a result of the loose oil filter. Given the available evidence it it could not be determined why the oil filter safety wire fractured or if it was properly installed.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.