Accident Overview
On August 1, 2022, at approximately 1130 eastern daylight time, a Beech 35, registration N119ED, was substantially damaged during an accident near Wauchula, Florida. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he had purchased the airplane as a “barn find,” and it had not been flown or serviced for 12 years. The accident flight was the first flight after completing the annual inspection. While en route, the radios began blinking, and the airplane subsequently experienced a total loss of electrical power. The pilot used the emergency handle to lower the landing gear and diverted to the closest airport. He prepared for a faster than normal landing because he was unable to lower the wing flaps. The airplane touched down and immediately veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with right brake but could not. The airplane exited the side of the runway and impacted a utility box, causing the left main landing gear to collapse.
Condition of Components
According to the pilot, the tires were new, and the wheel bearings had been removed, cleaned, and repacked. He further reported that, “due to the age of the plane and the lack of service for so many years, all of the wheel components could have used replacement.”
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector from the Orlando Flight Standards District Office conducted a postaccident examination. The left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Ground scars from three tire tracks were visible in the airplane’s direction of travel from the runway to the utility box. The landing gear was down and locked. The main landing gear brakes moved freely, and no bald spots were observed on the tires. The left main landing gear wheel rotated but was “hard to spin.” No evidence of any other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation was found.