Pilot Debrief

BEECH A36 near Phoenix, AZ — 2010-07-18

Final reportWPR10LA357
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Date
2010-07-18
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Airport
DVT
Aircraft
BEECH A36
Registration
N9SH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

A loss of engine power during descent due to fuel starvation that resulted from the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported flying for about an hour at 10,000 feet during a maintenance test flight to break in newly installed cylinders. The pilot reduced altitude to continue operating for another hour. As he changed altitude, he switched fuel tanks. Shortly after switching tanks, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane hit an automobile. Following the accident, about 1.5 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank, and the left fuel tank was found empty. The right fuel tank was cracked and had leaked some fuel; the left fuel tank was not damaged. During the postaccident engine examination, no mechanical failures or malfunctions were revealed that would have precluded normal operation. The loss of engine power was most likely due to the pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel, resulting in fuel starvation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have verified fuel levels before switching tanks.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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