20041119029149A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech A36TC · Madison, AL · November 19, 2004

Date: November 19, 2004 · 21:30 local
Place: Madison, AL
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N38047
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL05CA027
Reported as: Beech A36TC
Reported engine: Continental TSIO520*
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 850 total550 in this make and model36 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft on vectors for ILS approach at huntsville, Alabama (khsv). Descended to 3000 feet engine lost power. Pilot states that he attempted a restart to no avail. Aircraft landed in a cotton field approximately 5 to 6 NM northwest of the airport. Accident occurred at night with "0" visibility in the vicinity of the accidend due to thick fog. Field investigation reveals no apparent presence of fuel in the left tip or left main tank. Right tip tank appeared to be empty however right main appeared to be almost full. Fuel selector was found selected to the right tank. Pilot stated in interview that he had burned both mains down, and pumped the tips into the mains. Aircraft had been airborne approximately 3 hrs. 50 minutes when engine lost power. Pilot stated that he had "switched tanks" during the restart attempt indicating that at the time of power loss, the selector had been on the left tank. Engine run @ atlant air salvage satisfactory.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT ON VECTORS FOR ILS APPROACH AT HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA (KHSV). DESCENDED TO 3000 FEET ENGINE LOST POWER. PILOT STATES THAT HE ATTEMPTED A RESTART TO NO AVAIL. AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A COTTON FIELD APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 6 NM NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT WITH "0" VISIBILITY IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDEND DUE TO THICK FOG. FIELD INVESTIGATION REVEALS NO APPARENT PRESENCE OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TIP OR LEFT MAIN TANK. RIGHT TIP TANK APPEARED TO BE EMPTY HOWEVER RIGHT MAIN APPEARED TO BE ALMOST FULL. FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND SELECTED TO THE RIGHT TANK. PILOT STATED IN INTERVIEW THAT HE HAD BURNED BOTH MAINS DOWN, AND PUMPED THE TIPS INTO THE MAINS. AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 3 HRS. 50 MINUTES WHEN ENGINE LOST POWER. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD "SWITCHED TANKS" DURING THE RESTART ATTEMPT INDICATING THAT AT THE TIME OF POWER LOSS, THE SELECTOR HAD BEEN ON THE LEFT TANK. ENGINE RUN @ ATLANT AIR SALVAGE SATISFACTORY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL05CA027Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportHuntsville, ALThe 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.Nov 20, 2004 · Substantial damage