Accident Overview
On May 23, 2016, at approximately 1137 Hawaiian standard time, a Beech C23, registered as N6697Y, sustained substantial damage after a loss of engine power and subsequent ditching in the Pacific Ocean near Waianae, Hawaii. The aircraft was operated by the private pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight.
Sequence of Events
The cross-country flight originated from Lihue Airport, Lihue, Hawaii, about 20 minutes before the accident, with an intended destination of Kalaeloa Airport, Kapolei, Hawaii. During the climb to cruise altitude, the engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, which resolved the roughness, and continued climbing to 5,500 feet mean sea level. As the flight approached the shores of Oahu Island, the engine again began running rough, accompanied by a reduction in engine rpm to about 1,700. The pilot applied carburetor heat and adjusted the mixture but could not restore engine power. The pilot then executed a forced landing into the ocean waters just offshore.
Wreckage Examination
The aircraft came to rest nose-low, partially submerged in about 20 feet of water, approximately 50 to 75 feet from the shoreline. Initial examination revealed damage to the forward fuselage. The wreckage was recovered three days later and was found to be mostly fragmented from ocean tidal action. The engine remained attached to the firewall, with corrosion present throughout. The carburetor was separated from its mounts. The magnetos and fuel pump remained secured. Partial rotational continuity was obtained when the propeller was rotated about a quarter turn, but neither magneto produced spark. Disassembly was precluded by corrosion on cap bolts. The carburetor was disassembled; the float and needle valve were intact, but salt and ocean vegetation debris were present in the float bowl and screen. The right-side exhaust was partially attached, with missing nuts on two cylinders; it could not be determined if the nuts were lost before the accident or during salvage. No evidence of preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation was observed.
Additional Information
The Federal Aviation Administration had published Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 on June 30, 2009, regarding carburetor ice prevention. The ambient temperature at the time of the accident was 84°F with a dew point of 63°F, conditions that fall within areas of icing at glide and cruise power as outlined in the bulletin.