CEN13LA245

When the airplane was en route to the destination airport, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power and turned toward the nearest airport. Unable to reach the airport, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane was substantially damaged during the off-field landing. About 60 gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane during its recovery. A review of the multi-function display data revealed normal engine operation from takeoff until about 1.5 hours into the flight, when the fuel flow decreased and the engine experienced a loss of engine power. An examination of the airframe and a subsequent engine run did not detect any preimpact anomalies. The reason for the reduction in fuel flow and the subsequent fuel starvation to the engine could not be determined.

On April 26, 2013, about 1835 central daylight time, a Beech G36 airplane, N222GL, conducted a forced landing near Hoxie, Kansas. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Garmin International Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Centennial Airport (KAPA), Englewood, Colorado, about 1605 mountain daylight time, and was en route to the New Century AirCenter Airport (KIXD), Olathe, Kansas. According to a statement provided by the pilot, while at KAPA, the airplane's fuel tanks were filled with fuel and sumped prior to flight. About an hour after departure while in cruise flight at 11,000 feet mean sea level, the engine began to run rough with vibrations and decreasing power. The propeller rpm began to decrease and the pilot attempted to restore engine power. The pilot was unable to fly to the nearest airport, and performed a landing to an open agricultural field. During the forced landing, the airplane's nose gear was sheared off and the left wing was partially separated from the fuselage with buckling of the structure above the left main landing gear. The airplane was equipped with a Garmin G1000 integrated avonics system. A download of the data recorded by the device revealed that after departure, the airplane's engine consumed fuel from the left fuel tank until 1730 central daylight time, when the right tank was selected. Fuel from the right tank was consumed for 45 minutes before being switched back to the left tank. About 11 minutes later, the recorded fuel flow decreased from about 15 gallons per hour to 1 gallon per hour. The airplane was transported to a repair facility in Wellston, Oklahoma. During recovery of the airplane, approximately 60 gallons of fuel was drained from the fuel tanks, with near equal amounts taken from each wing tank. An examination of the airplane at the repair facility found the fuel selector moved freely with noticeable detents. The fuel line and fuel vent lines were examined and found unobstructed. No anomalies were detected with the airframe. The engine was removed and transported to an engine overhaul facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Under the auspices of the Federal Aviation Administration, the engine was placed on a test bed. An engine run was performed and the engine started on the first attempt and produced engine power. No anomalies were detected with the engine.