Accident Overview
On September 26, 2012, at approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, a Beech E33, registration N7133N, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Greeley-Weld County Airport in Greeley, Colorado. The aircraft was registered to All Seasons Window Cleaning LLC of Broomfield, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preflight Maintenance
Earlier that morning, the pilot/owner asked a local A&P mechanic to inspect the aircraft's fuel system. The mechanic opened the engine cowling and found nothing visually abnormal. He then disconnected the fuel line between the fuel pump and the throttle body and installed a remote pressure gauge to check fuel pressure. After removing the right side inspection cover of the lower cowling to access the throttle body, the pilot operated the engine from the cockpit while the mechanic observed. The idle mixture was found to be slightly rich and the fuel pressure at idle was within specifications. The mechanic readjusted the idle mixture setting at the throttle body and rechecked the fuel pressure, which remained within specifications. The engine was shut down twice, restarted, and checks were repeated. The pilot reported that the engine ran much better after the adjustments. After final checks for fuel pressure and locknuts on the idle mixture arm, and a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the cowls were reinstalled.
Flight and Emergency
After a normal run-up, the pilot took off from runway 9 for a local test flight. Witnesses observed the airplane climbing out normally and beginning to circle the airport. The airplane then descended toward the approach end of runway 27 as the pilot declared an emergency due to engine problems. The airplane landed gear-up in a plowed field approximately half a mile from the approach end of runway 27.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, the aircraft was moved to a local facility for examination. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the wreckage and could not determine the cause of the loss of engine power. On January 3, 2013, an engine run was attempted at Beegles Aircraft in Greeley, Colorado. The engine was run on the airframe with a different, unbent slave propeller and taken through a series of tests up to full power. No anomalies were noted except for slight fluctuations in the fuel flow indicator. Nothing was found that may have contributed to the reported loss of power.