Incident Overview
On December 18, 2010, at approximately 1510 central standard time, a Beech H35 (registration N5537D) experienced a loss of engine power and was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Des Moines, Iowa. The aircraft was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not conducted on a flight plan. The local flight had departed from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) around 1450.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, a few minutes after takeoff, the alternator indicated a discharge condition. He decided to return to the departure airport. While on final approach, at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The airplane descended short of the runway and struck an airport security fence.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed that the nose wheel had separated from the airframe. The wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors noted that the right main fuel tank contained no observable fuel. The left main fuel tank had approximately 1 inch of fuel, while the left and right auxiliary fuel tanks each contained about 3 inches of fuel. The fuel strainer and the fuel line leading to the engine were found empty. The fuel selector was in the OFF position at the time of the examination. When the selector was moved to the left main or left auxiliary tank positions, fuel flowed to the engine fuel line.
Pilot Account
The pilot informed FAA inspectors that he had departed with the fuel selector set to the left main fuel tank, as required by the airplane's operating handbook. He stated that he had switched fuel tanks in an attempt to restore engine power during the flight.
Manufacturer's Fuel Data
The airplane manufacturer reported that the measured fuel depths corresponded to approximately 2 gallons of fuel remaining in the left main tank and about 3 gallons in each auxiliary tank. The unusable fuel volume is 3 gallons for each main tank and 0.5 gallon for each auxiliary tank.