Beechcraft A36 N773CB

Summary

On 24 August 2018 at about 16:35 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N773CB was involved in an accident near Quincy, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 2018 at 16:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Quincy, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Quincy Municipal Airport (2J9)

Coordinates

30.5931, -84.5486

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N773CB

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Quincy → Monticello

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18LA229

1 person was seriously injured.

A loss of engine power due to decreased fuel flow for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and engine run-up with no discrepancies. During the takeoff, about 125 ft above ground level with the landing gear extended, the pilot reported that the engine suddenly lost total power. The pilot did not have adequate time to troubleshoot the loss of power before performing a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a tree. Although the pilot recalled departing with the fuel selector on the left tank position and he did not report changing it during the flight, it was found in the right tank position after the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine fuel system components revealed minimal or no fuel in the fuel pumps and throttle body. This finding was supported by decreased fuel flow recorded by the engine monitor and was consistent with fuel starvation; however, the reason for the decreased fuel flow could not be determined. Examination of the fuel vent system for the left and right fuel tanks revealed that both were free of obstructions from one of the vents into each respective tank, and the fuel supply system from each wing fuel tank to the engine were also clear for either fuel selector position. Water found in the right fuel tank was consistent with the fire department using water to extinguish fires started during the recovery process. A test run of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The mixture lever at the metering valve was impact damaged and loose and exhibited evidence of smearing damage to a section of the brass lever; however, the smearing was not along the entire periphery. Therefore, there was no evidence that the mixture control lever was rotating in relation to the stem of the mixture control shaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.