NTSB Factual Report

On August 28, 2017, about 849 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft model A36 airplane, N87RY, was destroyed when it collided with trees and terrain following a complete loss of engine power near Ellabell, Georgia.. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane sustained damage to all major components during the accident sequence. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), near Savannah, Georgia, at an undetermined time, and was destined for the Cobb County International Airport-McCollum Field (RYY), near Atlanta, Georgia.

The airplane impacted trees and terrain near Ellabell, GA. The airplane was found in a wooded swamp area at coordinates 32.23946, -81.43914, at a GPS elevation of 59 feet. The airplane was upright and facing 323 degrees. There was an impact crater centered about 10 feet directly in front of the nose of the airplane. Beyond the impact crater were trees with broken limbs and trunks that indicated a descent angle of about 45 degrees. The engine was partially separated from the fuselage. The fuselage was buckled in the cabin section with the aft section bent upward. The tail surfaces remained attached to the aft fuselage The elevator was still attached to the horizontal stabilizer, and the rudder was still attached to the vertical stabilizer. The windshield and window posts had been cut by first responders to facilitate extrication of the occupants. The forward fuselage was crushed rearward. Both wings exhibited rearward crushing with the right wing crushing being more pronounced than the left. The crush angles indicated a ground impact that was about 25 degrees from vertical. Both wings remained attached to the fuselage and the flaps and ailerons remained attached to the wings. The location of the airplane and the terrain precluded a comprehensive on-scene examination. The airplane was recovered from the accident site and transported to a facility for a more comprehensive examination.Subsequent examination of the airframe revealed:

• The aft fuselage had been cut off to facilitate removal from the scene

• The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator had been cut to facilitate removal from the scene

• The right wing tip had been cut to facilitate removal from the scene.

• The engine had been removed to facilitate removal from the scene.

• Aileron control system continuity was verified from the cabin to the control surfaces.

• Elevator control system continuity was verified from the cabin to the elevator with the exception of the cuts made to the cable in order to extract the airplane.

• Rudder control system continuity was verified from the cabin to the rudder with the exception of the cuts made to the cable in order to extract the airplane.

• The flaps were found in the up position (0 degrees)

• The landing gear was retracted.

No pre-impact defects were noted with respect to the airframe.

Examination of the engine revealed a hole in the top right rear of the engine case that was about 2 inches in diameter. The crankshaft was visible through the hole and there was no connecting rod attached to the visible rod journal. The engine was retained for a future teardown examination.