Beechcraft A35 N595B

Summary

On 21 January 1993 at about 02:05 local time, a Beechcraft A35 registered N595B, operated by Rent and Lease Programs, was involved in an accident near Tulare, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 January 1993 at 02:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Tulare, California, United States

Coordinates

36.1798, -119.3592

Aircraft

Beechcraft A35

Registration

N595B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rent and Lease Programs

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX93FA097

2 people died.

THE INSTALLATION OF AN UNAPPROVED WING TIP FUEL TANK SYSTEM; AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH DID NOT NOTE, OR CORRECT, THE UNAPPROVED FUEL SYSTEM ADDITION; A WING TANK FUEL SELECTOR VALVE INSTALLATION WITHOUT ADEQUATE PLACARDS TO SHOW POSITION OR OPERATION; AND INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PILOTS BY THE OWNER AND MECHANIC ON POSITIONING FUEL SELECTOR VALVES WHICH LED TO INADVERTENT MISPOSITIONING BY THE PILOTS AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOLLOWING THE POWER LOSS WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE CFI IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS GIVING DUAL TO THE LEFT SEAT CFI, WHO HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN TYPE. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, AT ABOUT 400-500 FT AGL, WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE LOSE POWER OR SURGE. THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN TO ROLL TO ONE SIDE AND DESCEND STEEPLY TO IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED WITH AN UNAPPROVED WING TIP FUEL TANK SYSTEM ADDITION. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE FOR THE TIP TANKS DID NOT HAVE ANY PLACARDS SHOWING POSITION OR OPERATION. BOTH CFI'S HAD BEEN GIVEN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO POSITION THE FUEL SYSTEM SELECTOR VALVES BY THE OWNER AND A MECHANIC WHO SIGNED OFF THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE STANDARD FACTORY FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE AUX POSITION, AND THE TIP TANKS FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN A HALF-ON/HALF-OFF POSITION. THE AIRPLANE ALSO HAD A POWERPLANT MODIFICATION FOR INCREASED HORSEPOWER AND OTHER AIRFRAME MODIFICATIONS, NOT ALL OF WHICH WERE DOCUMENTED OR APPROVED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.