NTSB Factual Report

On August 17, 2018, about 1318 eastern daylight time, a Beech N35, N1330Z, sustained substantial damage after it ditched in the Atlantic Ocean after a total loss of engine power three miles east of the Mayport Naval Station (NRB), Mayport, Florida. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the private pilot as a personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Rutherford County Airport (FQD), Rutherfordton, North Carolina, about 0930. The flight was destined to Ormond Beach Municipal Airport (OMN), Ormond Beach, Florida.

According to the pilot he was making a short cross-county flight at an altitude of 4,500 ft. Suddenly the engine lost all power, and the pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot contacted air traffic control and was advised that NRB was the closet airport to his current location. The pilot reported that he was unable to make it to the airport and performed a water landing. A nearby ship rescued the pilot after the water landing.

The airplane was recovered to a salvage facility and an examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both elevators were separated from the stabilizers. Further examination revealed that an undetermined amount of fuel was present in both wing fuel tanks. The airplane was retained for further examination.