Accident Sequence
Approximately one hour after departure, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot executed a forced landing on a road. During the rollout, the left wing struck a pole and a tree, causing the wing to separate from the fuselage. The airplane then nosed over and slid about one-quarter mile, crossed over a ditch, and came to rest.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the accident site did not reveal any fuel spillage. The fuel system was inspected and no anomalies were found. In the right fuel tank, approximately half a cup of fuel and about one-sixteenth cup of water were discovered. The left fuel tank was torn apart during the accident sequence, so its fuel quantity could not be determined. The engine was started and ran without any anomalies noted.
Fuel Consumption and Performance Data
The airplane had been flown for 3.3 tachometer hours since its last refueling. According to Beech performance charts, the maximum fuel burn for the airplane is 15.2 gallons per hour. The airplane has a total fuel capacity of 80 gallons, of which 6 gallons are unusable.
Pilot Statement
During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that prior to the engine quitting, "everything appeared to be normal."