What happened
The pilot was operating a twin-engine aircraft under a ferry permit to transport it to the Rusk County Airport for its annual inspection. The previous annual inspection had been conducted on August 20, 1980, and the aircraft had not been flown for over a year prior to this trip. During the arrival at the destination, the approach to the runway was high, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around. Approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL), the left engine lost power. Because the left engine became inoperative, the landing gear could not be retracted using the normal system. The pilot descended and landed in a rough field. After rolling approximately 300 feet, the left main landing gear failed.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the fuel bladder was rumpled. The fuel bladder was not connected to the inside of the wing by the attachment clips, which likely allowed it to collapse under suction during engine operation. The fuel vents were checked and found to be clear. The pilot stated that before takeoff, the fuel tanks were checked and appeared to be half full, corresponding with the gauges. A passenger reported that on downwind, the left tank indicator showed over one-quarter full.
Findings
The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft Baron (registration details not provided in source). The flight resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and landing gear. No injuries were reported. The primary causal factor was fuel starvation of the left engine due to the disconnected fuel bladder.