Beechcraft A36TC N38047

Summary

On 20 November 2004 at about 03:30 local time, a Beechcraft A36TC registered N38047 was involved in an accident near Huntsville, Alabama, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 November 2004 at 03:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Huntsville International (KHSV)

Coordinates

34.6403, -86.7731

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36TC

Registration

N38047

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Antonio → Huntsville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ATL05CA027

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing to an open field.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was being vectored for the ILS 18L approach when the pilot reported a loss of engine power approximately 7 miles from the airport at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). The pilot stated that he switched main fuel tanks and performed the loss of power procedures as outlined in the Pilot's Operating Handbook, but his attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot performed an off-airport landing with the gear retracted, and the airplane collided with the ground and slid to a stop. The left main fuel tank and left tip tank were empty with no evidence of fuel leakage. Approximately 36 gallons of fuel was recovered from the right main fuel tank, and the right tip tank was empty with no evidence of fuel leakage. The fuel selector handle was positioned to the right tank. Examination of the engine revealed continuity from the cockpit throttle and mixture controls to the fuel servo. The exhaust pipe was crushed. Examination of the top spark plugs revealed no evidence of abnormal wear or deposits. In preparation for a test run, the damaged propeller was removed and a Hartzell three-bladed club prop was installed. A three-inch by three-inch hole was cut in the exhaust pipe above the crushed area to facilitate exhaust flow, and the air inlet was cleared of mud. A portable fuel tank was connected to the supply fitting at the right wing root, and the fuel recovered from the right wing tank was utilized for the test run. An engine start was accomplished utilizing the cockpit controls; the engine started within four to five seconds and was observed to run smoothly. The engine idled smoothly at 700 to 750 rpm, and the engine operated smoothly up to 1900 rpm; higher rpms was not attempted. A magneto check was performed at 1900 rpm, and a drop of 75 rpm was observed for each.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.