FTW97LA149

While en route, the owner/pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank, and observed that the fuel gauge indicated about 1/2 full. During a downwind entry for the runway, the engine sputtered and lost power. A forced landing was made in a field west of the runway. During the landing flare, the left wing struck the ground, then the nose hit. An FAA inspector reported that the pilot had positioned the fuel selector to the right tank; however, he had left the fuel tank indicator (gauge) at the left tank position. The gauge was indicating 1/2 full, and the left fuel tank was about 1/2 full. The right fuel tank was empty. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was not familiar with the fuel indicator gauge switch, which had to be positioned to the fuel tank being used in order to indicate fuel remaining in that tank.

On April 3, 1997, at 1733 central standard time, a Beech D35, N940MD, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91, struck terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The cmmercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight and a flight plan was not filed.

During a personal telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he had recently purchased the airplane in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and after having some radios installed in the airplane, he returned to Tulsa to get the airplane. During the installation of the radios, the airplane had been flown by another pilot who informed the owner/pilot that the fuel tanks were not full. The owner/pilot departed Tulsa and flew the airplane toward Bartlesville where he planned to do a few touch and goes and top off the fuel tanks before flying the airplane to Kansas. En route, the pilot noted that the fuel selector was on the left tank and the fuel indicator, in the cockpit, was moving slowly toward the 1/4 full indication. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank and observed the fuel indicator at 1/2 full. During the downwind entry for runway 17 at Bartlesville Municipal, the engine sputtered and quit. A forced landing was made to a field west of the runway and during the landing flare, the left wing struck the ground and then the nose hit.

Local authorities and airport personnel reported that the fuel selector was found on the right tank and the cockpit fuel indicator was selected to the left tank. They further stated that the left fuel tank was 1/2 full and the right fuel tank was empty. The outboard two feet of the left wing was bent upward, the left wing spar was bent, and the engine was separated from the engine mounts and the firewall.

The FAA inspector, who interviewed the pilot and examined the airplane, reported that the right fuel tank position was selected at the fuel selector. The left fuel tank reading was selected at the cockpit indicator gauge. The pilot recalled that the gauge indicated 1/2 full for the fuel tank. The right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank was 1/2 full. The pilot stated that he had purchased the airplane and had one hour of flight time in the aircraft. The inspector reported that the pilot was not familiar with the fuel indicator gauge switch that must be selected to the fuel tank being used in order to indicate the fuel in that tank.

The Pilot/Operator did not provide the Safety Board with a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report.