History of Flight
On October 8, 2010, at approximately 1145 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A35, registration N8402A, experienced a loss of engine power and subsequently crashed during a forced landing near Blue Diamond, Nevada. The airplane was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country personal flight. It had departed Palm Springs, California, around 1000, with a planned destination of North Las Vegas, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The private pilot was flying the airplane; the passenger, her husband, was a rated pilot but did not hold a current medical certificate.
While on approach to land at North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to land on Nevada State Road 159 near Blue Diamond, approximately 16 miles southwest of North Las Vegas Airport (13 miles west-southwest of McCarran International Airport). The pilot reported that the engine quit; she reduced speed to 80 knots and circled to find a suitable landing site. She tried switching the fuel selector to various positions in an attempt to restart the engine but was unsuccessful.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, a Beech A35 serial number D-1814, had a total airframe time of 7,744.37 hours at the last annual inspection dated July 10, 2010. It was equipped with two main fuel tanks of 20 gallons each (one in each wing) and a 29-gallon auxiliary fuel tank located under and behind the rear seat. A major repair and alteration on May 8, 1957, had modified the factory auxiliary fuel tank to 29 gallons using factory fuel connections, approved for that specific airplane.
Communications and Radar Data
Radar data indicated the aircraft made a circular maneuver before entering Las Vegas Class B airspace. Radio transmissions with Las Vegas Approach revealed no mention of any problems at that time. The airplane had been cleared into Class B airspace and was being directed along the west side of the Las Vegas area. Approach radioed N8402A twice, about 1 minute 17 seconds apart, instructing the pilot to resume own navigation to North Las Vegas. No response was received to the first call; a male pilot responded to the second, stating, "we lost the engine."
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane struck a dirt embankment on the south side of the highway, causing it to veer right and ripping off both main landing gear. The left main gear was found about 60 feet from initial impact, the right main gear about 80 feet. The nose gear was retracted within the fuselage, with both nose gear doors torn off. The engine was partially separated from the fuselage with no obvious pre-impact damage or component failure. The propeller blades were scuffed on their forward faces and bent slightly aft, with no damage consistent with striking the ground under power; the spinner was crushed on one side.
Flight control continuity was established between ailerons and ruddervators, but due to extensive fuselage damage, controls could not be moved from inside. Wing flaps were fully retracted. The right wing tank appeared empty with no breach; the auxiliary tank was intact but fuel quantity could not be determined. The left wing tank had fuel within 2 to 3 inches of the filler opening. A small amount of blue fluid consistent with aviation gasoline was present in the right wing tank sump. The fuel tank selector was found in the position drawing from the right wing tank; the wobble pump was fully seated against the fuel selector housing in the detent. The engine tachometer was electrical and could not record time; no Hobbs meter was installed. A pilot's kneeboard contained documentation from the flight, including a note that the right fuel tank was selected at 10:00 AM; no other fuel tank selections were noted.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot sustained serious injuries, was hospitalized, and later released. The passenger also sustained serious injuries, was hospitalized, and subsequently died on November 7, 2010.
Tests and Research
On October 15, 2010, investigators examined the airplane's fuel system at Lone Mountain Aviation in North Las Vegas. With the fuel selector in the on-scene position (right wing tank), fuel flow would have come from that tank, confirmed by blowing air back through the fuel line and hearing it enter the right wing tank. When the selector was moved to "Auxiliary" and "Left Wing Tank" positions, blue fluid consistent with aviation gasoline dripped from the bottom of the fuel selector valve. To prevent fuel loss, the selector was returned to "Right." The selector operated normally with positive detents in all four settings (Auxiliary, Left Wing Tank, OFF, Right Wing Tank). The micro switch for the "Fuel Selector Not Engaged" light was not operational and could not be activated by moving the actuating arm.