Beechcraft A36 N9087S

Summary

On 4 June 2022 at about 14:00 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N9087S was involved in an accident near Amarillo, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 June 2022 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Amarillo, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Tradewind Airport (TDW)

Coordinates

35.1699, -101.8259

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N9087S

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Olathe → Amarillo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA233

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to a leak in the fuel control assembly. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance of the fuel control assembly.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during a nonprecision instrument approach to the destination airport, he applied full engine power when he noticed that the airplane airspeed was decreasing. He realized that the engine lost power and was unsuccessful in attempts at regaining engine power. He performed a forced landing on a pasture during which the airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed streaks fuel on the left side of the engine cowling. An examination of the engine revealed the fuel control assembly was leaking at the mixture control shaft’s O-ring. The O-ring was intact and did not exhibit separation. However, the outside diameter of the O-ring was less than the diameter of the mixture control shaft consistent with wear. A leak within the fuel control assembly would have allowed air to enter/fuel to exit the assembly resulting in improper fuel metering and a loss of engine power. No other mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operations. Maintenance records showed that the last overhaul of the fuel control assembly was performed during an engine overhaul in 1996. There were no subsequent records or evidence that indicated the assembly was overhauled after 1996. The engine manufacturer’s recommended time between overhaul (TBO) was 12 years. The engine manufacturer’s standard practice manual stated that engine accessories must be overhauled at the time of engine overhaul. The engine and fuel control assembly exceeded the engine manufacturer’s recommended TBO.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.