Beechcraft A36 N69PM

Summary

On 29 September 2006 at about 16:10 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N69PM, operated by Bienvee LLC., was involved in an accident near Macon, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 September 2006 at 16:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Macon, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Herbert Smart Downtown (MAC)

Coordinates

32.6906, -83.6428

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N69PM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bienvee LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brooksville → Lawrenceville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL06CA131

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was at cruise flight at 8,000 feet, when he was instructed by Atlanta Approach Control to descend, and maintain 6,000 feet. As the airplane descended through 6,500 feet the engine began to run rough and stopped. The pilot stated that he immediately switched fuel tanks, and began "to experiment with the manifold pressure knob, and mixture knobs, by pushing them in and out to see if the engine would run again." The pilot made a forced landing on I-75, and the left-wing tip collided with a guardrail. Examination of the airplane by a FAA inspector revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank had approximately 33 gallons of fuel. No evidence of fuel system leakage was noted. The airplane was recovered to the Macon Downtown Airport, and an engine start was accomplished using the start procedures in the Pilot's Operating Handbook. The engine was started using the airplane's fuel and battery power. The engine idled at 700 to 750 rpm and operated smoothly up to 1200 rpm; higher rpm was not attempted. The engine was shut down, and the 12 gallons of fuel was defueled from the right fuel tank, and placed in the left fuel tank. An engine start was accomplished using the start procedures with the fuel selector on the left tank. The engine started and idled at 700 to 750 rpm, and operated up to 1200 rpm. During the engine run the boost pump was turned off and on, and the engine continued to run smoothly. A review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the Raytheon Aircraft Beech A36, Section III: Emergency Procedures, Engine Failure, In Flight, states: "1. Fuel Selector Valve - SELECT OTHER TANK (feel for detent), 2. Magneto/Start Switch-CHECK BOTH, 3. Auxiliary Fuel Pump - HI, 4. Mixture Control- FULL RICH, then LEAN AS REQUIRED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.