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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 30, 1982 · Beech V35B · N1573W

Terminal Island, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Terminal Island, CA
Aircraft
Beech V35B
Tail Number
N1573W
Operator
H L Mahieu
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX82DA151

THE PILOT AND A MECHANIC WERE ON A FLIGHT TO TEST THE AIRCRAFT AFTER CHANGING THE MAGNETOS, SPARK PLUGS, AND IGNITION HARNESS. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, BUT SMOOTHED OUT AFTER THE BOOST PUMP WAS SWITCHED ON. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE CABIN BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE MASTER SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF, AND AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SMOKE WAS CLEARED FROM THE COCKPIT BY OPENING A SIDE WINDOW AND THE CABIN DOOR. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO AN ABANDONED MILITARY STRIP; HOWEVER, HE HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. THE PLANE STRUCK A CHAIN LINK FENCE AT THE APPROACH END OF THE FIELD DURING TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A FUEL LEAK OCCURRED AND THE FUEL WAS IGNITED BY THE HOT EXHAUST.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT AND A MECHANIC WERE ON A FLIGHT TO TEST THE AIRCRAFT AFTER CHANGING THE MAGNETOS, SPARK PLUGS, AND IGNITION HARNESS. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, BUT SMOOTHED OUT AFTER THE BOOST PUMP WAS SWITCHED ON. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE CABIN BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE MASTER SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF, AND AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SMOKE WAS CLEARED FROM THE COCKPIT BY OPENING A SIDE WINDOW AND THE CABIN DOOR. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO AN ABANDONED MILITARY STRIP; HOWEVER, HE HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. THE PLANE STRUCK A CHAIN LINK FENCE AT THE APPROACH END OF THE FIELD DURING TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A FUEL LEAK OCCURRED AND THE FUEL WAS IGNITED BY THE HOT EXHAUST.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftBeech V35B
Tail NumberN1573W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorH L Mahieu
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520 · Reciprocating · 285
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 13 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

External Links

Appendix: Source Data