History of Flight
On May 12, 2012, at approximately 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Beech model 3NM twin-engine airplane, registration N9540, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Pope Valley Airport (05CL) in Pope Valley, California. The pilot/owner and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that engine start and runup were normal. After takeoff from runway 10, when the airplane reached an altitude of about 50 feet above ground level, the right engine "died." The airspeed was approximately 25 mph below the minimum single-engine control speed, and the landing gear had not yet been retracted. The pilot continued straight ahead and landed the airplane in a vineyard just beyond the end of the runway. The vineyard contained multiple rows of trellises oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel. The airplane was arrested by the trellises and nosed over onto its back. The pilot secured the airplane, and all three occupants exited on their own. Fuel was observed leaking but no fire occurred. The nose, fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizers sustained substantial damage. Several hours after the event, the airplane was righted and moved to a hangar for examination.
Personnel Information
FAA records showed that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot reported approximately 7,900 total flight hours, including about 1,800 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent flight review was completed in September 2011.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1952 and equipped with Pratt & Whitney R-985 engines. It originally served in the Canadian armed forces and was sold to a U.S. individual in 1972. The pilot registered it in 2002. Maintenance records indicated a total time in service of approximately 7,908 hours, with the most recent annual inspection completed in November 2011. The left engine had about 220 hours since its last overhaul, and the right engine had about 480 hours since its last overhaul.
The airplane had five fuel tanks: an 80-gallon bladder-style nose tank, forward main tanks (78 gallons each) and aft auxiliary tanks (25 gallons each) in each wing. Each tank had its own sump drain, and each engine had a fuel strainer. Three fuel selector valves were installed: a four-position valve for each engine and a two-position suction crossfeed valve. According to the airplane flight manual, takeoff was to be conducted using the main tanks, and the crossfeed was to be off except in level flight.
Meteorological Information
The 1953 automated weather observation from an airport 21 miles west of 05CL reported winds from 190 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 26°C, dew point 12°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
Pope Valley Airport had a single paved runway designated 10/28, measuring 3,700 by 60 feet at an elevation of 618 feet. The area consisted of gently rolling hills and agricultural fields. The vineyard off the departure end of runway 10 had multiple rows of metal stake-and-wire trellises about 5 feet high, oriented perpendicular to the runway.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest inverted about 500 feet beyond the departure end of runway 10. Both propeller and engine assemblies were heavily entangled in steel trellis wires. Later that day, the airplane was righted and towed to the pilot's hangar. An examination was conducted about two weeks later. The lower cowlings had been removed, and numerous steel wires were wrapped around each propeller hub. Primary damage was to the nose and upper fuselage above the cockpit; the wings and vertical stabilizers had small punctures and crush damage. The elevator and left horizontal stabilizer showed moderate damage, which the pilot attributed to the righting operation.
The pilot reported that during preflight, he had sumped all five fuel tanks and both fuel strainers and observed no water. During the NTSB examination, about five drops of water were recovered from the right main fuel tank.
The cockpit condition was documented, though the pilot noted that first responders may have altered controls. Most electrical switches were found off, and both fuel selector handles were off, actions taken by the pilot after the accident. The pilot stated that each engine was set to its forward main tank for takeoff. The suction crossfeed valve handle was found at about 70 degrees toward the off position, but its position at takeoff could not be determined.
The carburetor and engine-driven fuel pump from the right engine were removed and examined, revealing no mechanical anomalies. Beech documentation listed 13 eligible fuel pump part numbers for the airplane, but the installed pump (Chandler Evans Type AN 4101-CE, Part CE-9135) was not among the listed eligible parts. The investigation could not determine the differences or whether the pump was suitable. Maintenance records did not indicate when or if the pump was installed.
Examination of the remainder of the airframe and right engine did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal engine operation. However, a lack of appropriate tools prevented complete examination of certain components.
Probable Cause
Not determined.