WPR19LA064

Shortly after takeoff and during the initial climb, the cabin door opened, and the pilot elected to return to the airport. Upon entering the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot noticed that the left fuel gauge indicated full; and the right fuel gauge indicated empty. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power and the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right main fuel tank and right tip tank had been breached during the accident sequence, while the left main wing tank and left tip tank were minimally damaged. Recovery personnel reported that about 12 gallons of aviation fuel was drained from the left main fuel tank and the left tip tank. The fuel selector handle was in the right tank position. When operated by hand, the handle moved freely through 360° rotation by hand, with each detent identified by feel. Examination revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation when the pilot failed to switch from the empty right main tank to the left main tank.

On January 13, 2019, about 1400 Pacific standard time, a Beech B35 airplane, N5093C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Port Hadlock, Washington. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff from Jefferson County International Airport (0S9), the single-entry door on the right side of the airplane opened. The pilot continued the climb to pattern altitude, then turned onto a left downwind to return to 0S9. The pilot further stated that while on downwind, he noticed that the left fuel gauge showed full, but “…there was no needle movement when I thought it should be moving.” The pilot further stated that the right fuel gauge showed empty when it should have shown full (20 gallons) and that the engine lost total power. The pilot maneuvered for a small grass area that he observed through an opening in the trees. The right wing impacted a large tree trunk, which nearly separated the wing from the airplane. There was no postcrash fire. First responders who arrived shortly after the accident reported that there was no smell of fuel present at the accident site and that the pilot indicated that “…the airplane seemed to not have fuel.” The pilot reported that he departed with about 45 gallons of fuel onboard. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right main fuel tank and right tip tank were breached during the accident sequence, while the left main fuel tank and left tip tank remained intact. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. Recovery personnel drained about 12 gallons of fuel from the left main and left tip tank. When the fuel selector handle was rotated by hand, it rotated freely through 360° without binding or interruption; all detents were identified by feel. The investigation revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.