ATL07LA041

Factual narrative

On February 9, 2007, at 1440 eastern standard time, a Beech A36, N315P, registered to and operated by Skytracker Aviation II Inc, as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, ditched following a loss of engine power 150-feet off the coast of Saint Simons Island in Brunswick, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The private pilot reported no injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Saint Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida, on February 9, 2007 at 1300. According to the pilot, he departed Fort Pierce, en-route to the Wilmington International Airport in Wilmington, North Carolina. While cruising at 7,000 feet, the engine "coughed" and went to idle. The pilot declared and emergency with Air Traffic Control and was cleared to Saint Simons Island airport. The pilot glided the airplane as far as it would go, but could not make it to the airport and ditched the airplane in the water. Damage to the airplane consisted of both wings the right horizontal stabilizer and empennage. On February 14, 2007, the engine was examined. Examination found the engine with minor damage. The oil filter and oil was replaced in preparation to run the engine. Examination of the left and right magneto's found that they would not produce spark when rotated. Internal examination of both magneto's found salt water corrosion. The magneto's were replaced and the engine was run. The engine run was successful, and after warm-up the engine revolutions per minute was increased to 2,620 with bent propeller blades. The JPI EDM-800 engine monitoring unit was sent to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory in Washington, DC, for examination. The examination was inconclusive referencing the loss of engine power. It was discovered during subsequent interviews with the pilot that at the time of the loss of engine power when he switched fuel tank selector positions he did not activate the airplane's auxiliary fuel pump. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook for the Beech Bonanza A36, under section III emergency procedures, page 3-4 Engine Failure In Flight the following should be accomplished: Fuel Selector Valve ....Select Other Tank, Magnetos... Check Both... Aux Fuel Pump... Hi...Mixture... Full Rich, then lean as required. According to the pilot, he departed Fort Pierce, en route to the Wilmington International Airport in Wilmington, North Carolina. While cruising at 7,000 feet, the engine "coughed" and went to idle. The pilot declared and emergency with Air Traffic Control and was cleared to Saint Simons Island airport. The pilot glided the airplane as far as it would go, but could not make it to the airport and ditched the airplane in the water. Examination found the engine with minor damage. The oil filter and oil was replaced in preparation to run the engine. Examination of the left and right magneto's found that they would not produce spark when rotated. Internal examination of both magneto's found salt water corrosion. The magneto's were replaced and the engine was run. The engine produced nearly full power with slightly bent propeller blades. The pilot stated that after the engine failed he switched fuel tank selector positions but did not activate the electric fuel pump. Although the cause for the loss of engine power remains undetermined, it is likely that had the pilot followed the emergency procedures stated in the Pilot Operating Handbook and after switching fuel tanks activated the auxiliary fuel pump, the engine would have restarted. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12