Beechcraft 35 N7956M

Summary

On 23 November 2019 at about 21:30 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N7956M was involved in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 November 2019 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Caldwell, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Caldwell Industrial (EUL)

Coordinates

43.6419, -116.6358

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N7956M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA033

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to the separation of the wastegate exhaust elbow.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, about 400 ft above ground level (agl), the engine began to run rough followed by a noticeable power loss. Smoke began to fill the cockpit, which appeared to be coming from the lower left firewall area. The engine continued to lose power and the pilot switched the fuel source to the right main fuel tank; however, there was no change, the engine lost total power, and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot made the decision to return to the runway; as the airplane neared the ground, it stalled, bounced, and then impacted the runway and the VASI/PAPI light structure. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the wastegate exhaust elbow separated from the wastegate and the tail pipe causing exhaust gas to melt the magneto P-leads, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The exhaust system was further examined, and the “V-band” clamp torque was verified to be at least 40-inch pounds (the appropriate amount); however, the tail pipe was not secure to the turbocharger despite the “V-band” clamp being torqued to the proper value. Visual inspection of the exhaust system components did not reveal any other anomalies, and the reason for the exhaust elbow separation could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.