NTSB Factual Report

On August 28, 2015 about 1400 central daylight time, a Beechcraft E-90, N891PC, experienced a total loss of electrical power after takeoff from the Shelbyville Municipal Airport (SYI), Shelbyville, Tennessee. The pilot subsequently made an off-airport landing in a soybean field west of Fayetteville, Tennessee. The private pilot was uninjured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to Chopaire LLC and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions were reported at the departure airport about the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Huntsville International Airport (HSV), Huntsville, Alabama.

The pilot stated that the start-up, taxi and takeoff were normal, but while climbing through 3,000 feet a total electrical failure occurred. He performed the generator inoperative emergency checklist but was unable to restore electrical power. Initially, he elected to make a precautionary landing at Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FYM), Tennessee, approximately 30 miles south of SYI.

While in the pattern for FYM, he attempted to lower the gear using the emergency gear extension procedures, but later reported, "I did not believe that the landing gear was extending. I did not feel any resistance in the manual extension handle." He discontinued pumping the handle and decided that without any communications capability or confirmation that the gear was down and locked, he would land off-airport as to avoid airport traffic. He departed the FYM pattern and found an open field.

During landing, the aircraft settled down cutting a swath through waist high soybean. The airplane settled down on partially extended landing gear resulting in damage to the underside of the fuselage, gear doors, engines, propellers and nose.