Beech A36 accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, April 28, 2004
On April 28, 2004 at about 7:03 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N3243P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedford, Massachusetts (Bedford/Hanscom airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's failure to properly torque the engine-driven fuel pump's return line B-nut fitting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2004 · about 7:03 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, Massachusetts · Bedford/Hanscom · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N3243P · no longer on the register · serial E-2943
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the first takeoff after the installation of an overhauled engine, about 400 feet, the engine rpm dropped, then went to zero. The pilot turned back toward the airport and unsuccessfully attempted an engine restart with the boost pump in the "high" position. The airplane subsequently landed perpendicular to a runway, all three landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest between two parked airplanes. During a post-accident examination, the cockpit fuel boost pump lever was found in the "high" position, and there was no evidence of fuel spillage or spray within the engine compartment. In addition, torque paste on the engine-driven fuel pump's return line B-nut fitting was found to be 1/4 turn counter-clockwise (loosened) in relation to the torque paste on the receiving end of a 90-degree elbow fitting. When the B-nut was hand-tightened, the torque paste on both fittings were aligned. When the B-nut was further tightened with a wrench, the paste was misaligned again, but about 1/4 turn further clockwise. Multiple engine runs revealed that when the B-nut was fully tightened with a wrench, and when it was also hand-tightened to the point where the B-nut paste was aligned with the 90-degree fitting paste, the engine ran smoothly. When the B-nut was loosened to a point nearly to where it was initially found, the engine quit. During subsequent testing, while the B-nut was being loosened and the engine started to quit, the boost pump was turned on to the "high" position. The engine then ran, but fuel was sprayed from the fitting. When the B-nut was further backed off, the engine would quit and could not be restarted, even with the boost pump operating. Maintenance facility personnel subsequently conducted similar tests on another airplane with a similar fuel system. When the B-nut was loosened sufficiently to allow fuel leakage, the engine quit. However, during those tests where the engine began to quit and the auxiliary fuel pump switch was placed in the high position, the engine continued to run.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,095 hours in all; 1,245 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,030 as pilot in command; 897 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 2004; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-550B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 7:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:03 pm from BED
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.