Accident Overview
On February 17, 2009, at 0928 central standard time, a Beech H35, registered as N7942D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field one mile east of runway 09 at East Kansas City Airport (3GV), Grain Valley, Missouri. The pilot, a commercial pilot flying a personal cross-country flight under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Flight Details
The flight departed 3GV and was en route to Atchison, Kansas (K59). Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft's engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He performed a forced landing in an open field.
Damage and Examination
During the landing roll-out, the left wing struck a tree, causing the airplane to spin around. An on-scene examination showed that the left wing was substantially damaged from the landing gear outboard. The wing's leading edge was wrinkled, the wing spar was damaged, and the nose gear strut assembly was sheared off. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies prior to the engine losing power.
Engine Inspection
An examination of the airplane's engine and engine-driven fuel pump revealed "foreign matter under the pressure relief valve," which allowed "fuel to bypass" the carburetor and return to the fuel tank instead.