WPR12LA188

While in cruise flight, the engine lost power while the fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. The pilot positioned the fuel selector to the right tank and the engine momentarily regained power. However, the engine gradually lost power completely and did not regain power again, although the pilot switched back and forth between the right and left fuel tanks. The pilot conducted a forced landing on a road. The pilot inadvertently delayed extending the landing gear; as a result, the landing gear was only partially extended and subsequently collapsed when the airplane touched down on the paved road, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed minimal fuel in the left tank and about 20 gallons in the right tank. The engine was subsequently run successfully, and no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were observed. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation.

On April 28, 2012, at 0958 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Hawker Beech V35B airplane, N2841W, lost engine power during flight and the pilot landed the airplane on a road near Coalinga, California. The private pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot departed from Sacramento Executive Airport, Sacramento, California, about 0905 PDT. According to the pilot, approximately 8 miles from his destination he heard a change in engine power. He switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank and monitored the fuel flow. The engine momentarily regained power, but then the fuel flow continued to decrease until the engine lost power. Throughout the loss of power, the pilot continued to switch the fuel selector back and forth between the fuel tanks until the engine lost full power. The pilot then landed the airplane on a road. During the landing, extension of the landing gear was delayed and the right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed upon touchdown. The pilot indicated that the airplane was not at an altitude where a restart attempt could be conducted. Examination of the fuel of the accident site showed minimal fuel in the left tank and approximately 20 gallons in the right tank. An NTSB investigator examined the wreckage following the accident. The engine was test run using an external fuel source and no anomalies were identified. Examination of the fuel tank vents revealed that they were free of obstruction. There were no pre-impact anomalies identified that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. According to the pilot operating handbook (POH), when a rough running engine occurs, the pilot should perform the following: 1. Mixture- full rich, then lean as required 2. Magneto/Start Switch- Check left and right, then both 3. Alternate Air T-Handle- Pull and Release For a loss of engine power, it reports the following: 1. Fuel Flow Gage- Check If fuel flow is abnormally low: a. Mixture- full rich b. Auxiliary Fuel Pump- On (lean as required) c. Auxiliary Fuel Pump - Off if performance does not improve in a few moments 2. Fuel Quantity Indicator- Check for fuel supply in tank being used 3. Alternate Air T-Handle- Pull and Release If tank being used is empty: Fuel Tank Selector Valve- Select other fuel tank (feel for detent and check visually)