Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Worth, Texas 76177
Monday, April 14, 2003 7:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Upon accepting a clearance to climb to 3,500 feet msl the pilot increased power. As power was increased, the pilot noticed on the engine data management unit that there were "no bars illuminated for cylinder number 5." The pilot reported to Dallas-Fort Worth air traffic control that the airplane was experiencing engine problems and requested to divert to the nearest airport. Upon receiving directions to the nearest airport, the pilot noticed cylinder #4 "had no readout." He advised air traffic control that he was unable to make the airport and initiated a forced landing. During the landing flare, "airspeed bled so fast that the stall horn beeped and the airplane seemed to accelerate toward the ground." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and came to rest upright in a grass field. Examination of the airframe fuel filter revealed that the fuel filter screen displayed evidence of corrosion, and the housing was full of fuel. Examination of the fuel manifold revealed the topside of the screen contained debris, the #3 fuel nozzle was blocked with contaminants, and debris was found in the #4, #5, and #6 fuel. The #1 manifold to fuel nozzle fuel line was found partially blocked.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to corrosion and contamination of the fuel system, and the partially blocked fuel lines and nozzles.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 740
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Fort Worth
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76177
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 325915N
Event Location Longitude 0971907W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID AFW
Elevation of weather observation facility 722
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14010
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Worth, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N390BC
NTSB Number FTW03LA129
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D10053
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 30 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 78.92
Airframe Hours 2281.25
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Airline Holding Company Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 Silverside RD Suite 105
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Thomas Hollister
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11565 Airway Bvld.
Operator City Roanoke
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76262
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 52F
Departure City ROANOKE
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 735
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code F41
Destination City Ennis
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb - to cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2003 6:06PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --