# NTSB CHI04LA009: Beech A33, N471T, Grandview, MO, October 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2003, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Grandview, MO - Coordinates: 38.846668, -94.534164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8467&lon=-94.5342&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 58149 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58149/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA009 ## Probable cause Separation of the fuel selector handle which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the hay bale that the airplane contacted during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - fuel system,selector/valve - separation (cause) - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel tank selector position - not possible (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with a hay bale during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he attempted to switch the fuel selector from an auxiliary tank to a main fuel tank when the fuel handle came off in his hand. The pilot reported, "I put the handle back on the shaft but it would not move the selector valve. It would only spin on the shaft." He reported that shortly thereafter, the fuel in the auxiliary tank was exhausted and the engine lost power. The pilot reported he selected a field in which to make the forced landing. He stated that during the landing the left wing contacted a large hay bale that was in the field. Post accident inspection of the fuel selector indicated the roll pin which holds the selector handle on its shaft was missing. The pin was not located. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 2003, at 1530 central daylight time, a Beech A33, N471T, collided with a hay bale during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power, in Grandview, Missouri. The ATP certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Topeka, Kansas, at 1500. The pilot reported he was at an altitude of 3,000 above mean sea level when he attempted to switch the fuel selector from an auxiliary tank to one of the main fuel tanks in preparation for landing. He reported that when he moved the selector handle, it came off in his hand. The pilot reported, "I put the handle back on the shaft but it would not move the selector valve. It would only spin on the shaft." He reported that shortly thereafter, the fuel in the auxiliary tank was exhausted and the engine lost power. The pilot reported he selected a field in which to make the forced landing. He stated that during the landing the left wing contacted a large hay bale that was in the field. Post accident inspection of the fuel selector indicated the roll pin which holds the selector handle on its shaft was missing. The pin was not located. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N471T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N471T-2004-02-06), registration cancelled 2004-02-06, S/N CD-293, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A33 - Registry model: [Beech 35-A33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-a33) (registry code 1151404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD293 - Airframe hours: 4224 - Engines: Continental IO-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth L. Palmer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2002, 7 hours before - Departed: TOP, Topeka, KS - Destination: LXT, Lee's Summit, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 16, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 17,217 total, 450 in this make and model, 13,615 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: OJC, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031014025909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031014025909A), Oct 14, 2003: Beech 35A33, Grandview, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed phillip billard airport, topeka, KS, (top), and was enroute to lee's summit, MO, (lxt). He had switched to the auxiliary fuel source upon… ## Other investigations on N471T (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI68D0540](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68D0540), Jan 16, 1968: Beech A35-33 (N471T), Morton, IL, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.