History of Flight
On March 30, 2015, at approximately 1115 mountain standard time, a Beech H35, registration N112F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at Tucson International Airport (TUS), Tucson, Arizona. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to Skyler Aviation and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight was originating at the time.
According to a written statement from the pilot to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, he conducted a preflight check and noticed no abnormalities. He taxied to runway 8 right and performed a pre-takeoff checklist that included cycling the propeller and conducting an engine run-up at 2,000 rpm. He also leaned the mixture until the engine hesitated and then advanced it to maximize cylinder head temperature.
During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated normally and briefly became airborne at 80 knots. The pilot decided to keep the airplane on the ground until it cleared the displaced threshold and then lifted off again. As the airplane ascended through about 50 feet above ground level, the engine began sputtering. The pilot attempted to lean and enrich the mixture, but observed no change in engine performance. With insufficient runway remaining, he initiated a forced landing to rough desert terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane struck vegetation and sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and empennage.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane, serial number D-5200, was powered by a Continental Motors IO-470-N14B engine, serial number 096504, rated at 260 horsepower. It was equipped with a Beechcraft Bonanza P/N 278-100 two-bladed constant speed propeller.
Review of the airplane maintenance logbook revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed on January 2, 2015, at a tachometer time of 1,903.8 hours and a total time of 2,026.18 hours.
Weight and Balance Calculations
The pilot stated that the maximum gross weight for the airplane was 2,900 pounds, and that the weight at the time of the accident was 2,700 pounds. However, the weight and balance revision in the flight manual supplement for N112F, dated December 11, 1975, indicated a maximum gross weight of 3,100 pounds. Using the empty weight from that revision along with the weight of occupants, fuel, and baggage, the NTSB investigator-in-charge calculated the departure gross weight to be about 2,919 pounds.
Using the manufacturer's Climb Performance chart from the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the reported weather conditions and calculated gross weight at takeoff yielded a climb performance of about 980 feet per minute.
No probable cause was determined by the investigation.