20210513008909A

When: 05/13/2021 16:18Z

Where: New Lenox, IL, interstate I-355 southbound center median near the route 6 off ramp.

A private pilot was operating a Beechcraft B24R sierra, serial number MC-371, from lewis university airport (klot) in romeoville, Illinois to eagle creek airpark (keye) in indianapolis, Indiana with 3 passengers.

The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and using visual flight rules (VFR). The nearest automated weather observation station (AWOS) reported light winds and clear skies (METAR klot 131616Z auto 30004KT 10SM clr 17/02 A3042 rmk AO2=).

The pilot began his flight preparation of this flying club aircraft which was tied down on the ramp by acquiring from the hangar and using four of the flying club?s five gallon plastic utility jugs (of the type nominally used for motorsports) to raise the fuel level to approximately 50 gallons. The pilot reportedly sumped the tanks in three locations after fueling. The pilot reported an uneventful takeoff from runway 02 at klot and a right turn out towards keye to the south east. During climb out the pilot received a message on the onboard avionics to switch fuel tanks and acted upon the message. Shortly after switching fuel tanks and climbing through 1,700 feet above geodetic sea level (gsl) as recorded by onboard electronic flight bag (EFB) and heading south east, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power.

The pilot reported that he pitched for best glide speed, and selected a portion of interstate I-355 that traveled in a south east direction as the off field landing site. The pilot reported attempting a restart by using the mechanical fuel pump, exercising the throttle and mixture, and switching fuel tanks, to no avail.

The pilot deployed wing flaps, and reported extending the landing gear. The pilot reported having to avoid road signs and trying to slow down to get behind a semi-tractor trailer. The aircraft slowed to the point that the aircraft descended to the roadway surface at an excessive rate. The aircraft touched down in the middle lane of a three lane interstate. The landing gear retracted and the aircraft drifted to the left on the bottom of the fuselage. The left wing impacted the center median and caused a rotation to develop which caused the nose to impact the median. The aircraft came to rest with the right elevator against the median, and the nose facing west. No fuel leaks or tank ruptures evident, no post-accident fire.

All four occupants were injured with non-life threatening injuries and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Inspection at the scene by the FAA noted that the fuel tanks were nearly full at the time of the accident. Control continuity was verified. The throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were full forward.

A subsequent inspection by the FAA of the aircraft off site was conducted in coordination with the NTSB, with representatives of Lycoming, and the aircraft owner present. Water was found present from the fuel injectors back to the left fuel tank. The left fuel tank contained 2.5 gallons of water. No water was present in the right fuel tank.

FAA inspectors accompanied the owner representative to the flying club hangar and found water present in the plastic utility jugs which were found in the pilot?s automobile. Subsequent investigation found that one of the flying clubs members was using the utility jugs for water to clean one of the flying club?s airplanes. The flying club utilized the utility jugs for maintenance de-fueling, but also allowed members to use the jugs to obtain fuel from the pump and fueling the aircraft direct from the utility jugs.