NYC07LA134

The airplane departed an airport in visual meteorological conditions, and approaching the destination airport, the pilot opted to return to the departure airport due to weather. As the airplane was descending toward the departure airport, the engine lost power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, where he landed hard. The pilot indicated that he had flown the return leg utilizing fuel from the right tank, switched to the left tank before the descent, and the engine failed during the descent. Postflight examinations of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Approximately 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the right wing tank, and 11 gallons of fuel were drained from the left wing tank, with no indication of fuel leakage from either tank. According to the airplane’s operating handbook, there were 3 gallons of unusable fuel in each tank. The fuel selector was found on the left tank at the accident site, and when removed for examination, fuel flowed from all connecting lines except the right main tank. Although the pilot had switched to the left fuel tank at some point, he did not utilize the boost pump (auxiliary fuel pump) as required in the procedures for an engine restart.

History of flight

On June 8, 2007, at 0902 central daylight time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company A36, N729P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while approaching Sumner County Regional Airport (M33), Gallatin, Tennessee. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, and two passengers incurred minor injuries. The flight, which departed Gallatin at 0710, was originally destined for McGee-Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the business flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

During a telephone interview, while the pilot was recovering in the hospital, he stated that as the airplane neared Knoxville, he determined that the weather conditions precluded a landing, and opted to return to Gallatin. Nearing Gallatin, at an altitude of about 6,500 feet, the pilot began a descent. When the airplane reached an altitude of "probably 1,500 feet," the engine would not produce any more than 15 inches of manifold pressure. The pilot exercised the throttle and propeller, but could not obtain any additional power. At 500 feet, the pilot decided to shut the fuel off and land in a field.

When asked about any sputtering or other engine noises prior to the lack of power, the pilot responded that there was a "shivering" of the engine about a minute before the loss of power.

When questioned about which fuel tank he had been flying on, the pilot responded that he was operating on the left (wing) tank when the problem occurred. He had been operating on the right tank on the way to Knoxville and the left tank on the return. He also said that he had switched tanks a couple of times before descending, but finally selected the left tank since it had more fuel.

The pilot was also interviewed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors. According to the statement made to one of the inspectors, the purpose of the flight to Knoxville was to look at some real estate. Within 3 miles of the destination, the pilot decided to return to Gallatin due to weather. The airplane returned at 6,500 feet, with headwinds en route to Knoxville, and tailwinds returning. While descending to the final destination, about 4 to 5 miles from the airport, the manifold pressure dropped to 15 inches, and the pilot could not obtain any additional power. He then switched from the left tank to the right tank, but immediately switched back to the left. The engine continued to run with low manifold pressure, but the airplane would not maintain altitude, so the pilot secured the engine and landed in a field.

The pilot also reported to the inspectors that he switched fuel tanks every 30 minutes, and had about 50 to 60 gallons of fuel upon departure from Gallatin. When asked if had turned on the fuel boost pump after the loss of engine power, the pilot indicated that he had not.

In a statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board dated June 20, 2007, the pilot stated that he had added 10 gallons to each tank prior to departing Gallatin, "which showed 5/8 tank on each side leaving 20 gallons usable in each tank." The pilot also noted that during the flight, the winds were 30 knots from the west. The pilot also stated that en route to Knoxville, he was flying on the left tank, and upon making the turn back toward Gallatin, he switched to the right tank. Prior to descending from 6,500 feet on the return leg, the pilot switched back to the left tank. The pilot also noted that he lowered the landing gear prior to the landing, and made a "harder landing" to avoid flipping the airplane or hitting a tree row.

In an amended statement dated September 9, 2007, the pilot reported that after he received a weather briefing, he conducted a preflight inspection and boarded the passengers. "The engine did not start normally and took several attempts…Once started, there were no noticeable problems with the engine." The airplane departed Gallatin with 21 gallons of fuel in each tank, and the winds were 20 knots from the west. The pilot also stated that he flew to Knoxville on the left tank, and on the right tank for the return trip. Twelve miles from Gallatin, before descending from 6,500 feet, the pilot switched to the left tank. Approximately 7 miles from the airport, the pilot saw an opening in the cloud cover, and descended through it. Then, about "4.5 miles on a base to runway 17, the manifold pressure began dropping." The pilot noted that the manifold pressure was 15 inches and he could not increase it. The manifold pressure continued to drop with the propeller rpm at 2,300.

After "adjusting the prop and fuel," the pilot "was unable to continue flight." He "feathered" the propeller, pulled the mixture back "to cut the engine off," and attained a glide airspeed of 110 knots. The airplane touched down about 30 seconds later, and during the landing, the airplane came to an "abrupt stop" when the propeller impacted the ground.

The pilot also noted in the amended statement that, "anything to the contrary previously reported was in error."

Personnel information

The pilot, age 42, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single engine and multiengine airplanes. The pilot reported 150 hours of total flight time, with 70 hours in make and model.

Aircraft information

The airplane, which was manufactured in 2002, was powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-B(39)B engine. The airplane’s Hobbs meter indicated 349.8 hours of operation, and the latest 100-hour inspection was completed on November 1, 2006.

Airport line service personnel confirmed that the pilot requested 10 gallons in each tank the day before the accident flight and provided a copy of the fuel receipt.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage was examined by representatives from the airframe manufacturer, Hawker-Beechcraft Corporation (which purchased the company from Raytheon), Teledyne Continental Motors, and the FAA. An FAA inspector also provided examination oversight, as well as a review of the manufacturers’ reports.

According to the field notes from the airframe manufacturer's representative, the wreckage was located by Sumner County Regional Airport personnel approximately 3 miles from the airport, at 36 degrees, 24.4 minutes north latitude, 86 degrees, 21.5 minutes west longitude, in a recently-baled field. No preexisting conditions were found that would have precluded normal operation of the airframe, and all flight control surfaces were accounted for at the scene.

During the examination of the cockpit, the fuel selector handle was found in the OFF position, and an examination of the fuel selector valve confirmed it was in the OFF position. The fuel selector valve rotated freely to all positions. The fuel selector was removed and during the removal, fuel flowed from all lines except the right main tank fuel feed line. The screen was found installed correctly and absent of debris. The boost pump was removed and connected to a battery charger. When power was applied, the pump operated normally on both low and high settings.

The wreckage recovery crew advised the representative that less than 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank and approximately 11 gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank. No fuel leaked from the airplane during the recovery.

The airframe representative also spoke to the deputy director of emergency services, who reported that he was the first person on scene and assisted the occupants. After egress, the pilot asked him if he could shut off the power and fuel in the airplane. The director boarded the airplane on the right side and laid across the seats to reach the power switch (battery switch). He then reached down the left side of the pilot seat and "tried to turn the red handle clockwise but couldn't until I pushed the white button down," which would