Accident Details
On July 6, 2010, at approximately 1830 eastern daylight time, a Beech F33A, registration N350NW, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on Lake Norman near Lake Norman Airpark (14A), Mooresville, North Carolina. The pilot, a certificated private pilot, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which originated from Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina, about 1800. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preflight and Flight
The pilot stated that the airplane was being brokered for sale and had not flown for an extended period. He elected to fly it to his home near 14A to "exercise" it. During preflight inspection, the pilot noted that all fuel tanks contained fuel and sumped the main tanks several times to remove trace water and contaminants observed in the first sample. The battery voltage was low due to inactivity, requiring an external power supply for engine start. During run-up, indications of fouled spark plugs were noted, which cleared after leaning procedures. No other abnormalities were reported. After departure from GSO, the pilot climbed to a planned cruise altitude of 6,500 feet mean sea level. During descent, he reviewed the supplemental before landing checklist and entered the traffic pattern. On the downwind-to-base turn at about 500 feet above ground level, the pilot began the final landing checklist and activated the fuel boost pump. Immediately after, the engine began to sputter and lose power. He turned off the fuel boost pump and performed emergency procedures to restart the engine, subsequently electing to land on Lake Norman and attempting engine restart several times before impacting the water.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after recovery from the lake. Substantial damage was observed along the right side of the fuselage and the left wing tip fuel tank. The fuselage was buckled aft of the right cabin door, and the left wing fuel tip tank was dented along the aft outboard section. The engine, a 350-horsepower Lycoming TIO-540 series installed under a supplemental type certificate, was examined in Clayton, Georgia on July 29, 2010. The crankshaft was rotated by hand, confirming continuity of the crankshaft and valvetrain to the accessory section. Thumb compression was confirmed on all cylinders. Spark plugs exhibited normal wear. Examination of the magnetos revealed water in the housing; rotation failed to produce spark, and after draining, neither magneto produced spark. The turbocharger moved freely with no blockage or oil contamination. A test run was attempted but unsuccessful.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on May 26, 2009. He reported 3,757 total hours of flight experience, with 25 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
Weather Conditions
Recorded weather at Statesville Regional Airport, approximately 9 miles north of the accident location, at 1952 included calm winds, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, visibility 10 miles, temperature 31°C, dewpoint 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of mercury.