N607D

On August 29, 2003, about 1900 Pacific daylight time, a Beech C35, N607D, collided with terrain following a loss of engine power during takeoff from a temporary dirt strip about 9 miles northeast of Gerlach, Nevada. The owner was operating the airplane as a personal local flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that he rolled the engine back to 2,200 rpm and reduced the manifold pressure to 23 inches. He brought the gear up. The airplane was about 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl) and climbing at 90 knots. The engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing with the landing gear retracted. After landing, the front seat occupants exited the airplane. They assisted the rear seat passenger exit the airplane. The pilot reentered the airplane and turned off the master switch, the magnetos, and disabled the emergency locator transmitter.

Investigators examined the wreckage at Plain Parts, Sacramento, California, on September 22, 2003. The tachometer read 2,489.36 at the exam. The pilot reported that the last engine overhaul occurred in 1994, and time on the engine since the overhaul was 920 hours. An annual inspection was completed on May 17, 2003.

The engine was a Teledyne Continental Motors E-225 engine, serial number 35324-D-5-8. Recovery personnel removed the engine and slung it from a hoist. Investigators removed the top spark plugs. All spark plugs were clean with no mechanical deformation. The spark plug electrodes were light gray.

Investigators manually rotated the crankshaft, and it rotated freely. They obtained thumb compression on all cylinders in firing order. They obtained spark on the top plugs for cylinders 2, 4, and 6. They manually rotated the right magneto, and produced spark at the leads for cylinders 1, 3, and 5.

The fuel screen in the pressure carburetor was clean. Investigators put solvent into the inlet line to the fuel pump and manually rotated the pump. The pump rotated freely and fluid exited the outlet line.

The fuel selector valve was in the off (aft) position.

The pilot operator failed to submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).