Accident Overview
On September 23, 2013, at 1237 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, registration N40KG, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Wellington, Florida. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was operating under an instrument flight rules flight plan.
Flight Details
The flight originated from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia, at about 0730, with Boca Raton Airport (BCT), Boca Raton, Florida, as its destination. The personal flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. During the preflight inspection, the pilot noted a total of 74 usable gallons of fuel onboard. After departure, the pilot climbed to cruise altitude and referenced the GPS, noting an expected total flight duration of about 4 hours. Later, the pilot compared the engine monitor and fuel totalizer with the GPS estimate of remaining flight time. While near Melbourne, Florida, air traffic control instructed the pilot to descend and provided radar vectors to avoid weather. During the descent, the fuel totalizer indicated about 10 gallons of fuel remaining, with an estimated endurance of about 75 minutes.
Pilot Actions
Approximately 20 miles from the destination airport, while at an altitude of about 4,000 feet, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He declared an emergency to air traffic control. After determining that the airplane could not reach the nearest airport, the pilot executed a forced landing onto a highway. During the landing, the airplane bounced, veered left, then right, and hydroplaned on the wet road surface. It came to rest after striking a utility pole, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot then turned off the master switch, ignition, and fuel selector before exiting unharmed.
Examination and Test
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The right wing had struck a roadway sign and the left wing had struck a power transmission pole, causing substantial damage to both wings. The damage prevented a determination of the fuel quantity remaining at the time of the accident. No smell of fuel was detected at the site. The engine was later removed and placed on a test stand. It started normally and ran to a maximum of 2,300 rpm, with oil and fuel pressure within nominal limits. Both magnetos functioned properly.
Engine Monitor Data
A JP Instruments EDM-700 engine monitoring device was recovered and its data were extracted. The unit recorded data over 12 power cycles from July 30, 2013, through the accident flight. The accident flight recording lasted 5 hours and 31 minutes, with fuel flow exceeding 9 gallons per hour (gph) for 5 hours and 13 minutes. Parameters recorded included exhaust gas temperature (EGT), cylinder head temperature (CHT), voltage, fuel flow, and oil temperature. The unit was configured for 98 gallons as full fuel. At about 11:58, about 4 hours and 40 minutes after fuel flow first exceeded 9 gph, engine parameters began to fluctuate slightly, with total fuel used at 56 gallons. At 12:28:30, CHTs and EGTs decreased gradually as fuel flow dropped from 12 gph to 10 gph. At 12:29:48, EGTs began to increase, peaking at 12:30:24. At 12:30:30, fuel flow reduced to 0 gph for the remainder of the recording, and CHTs and EGTs decreased rapidly. The recording ended at 12:37:48, 7 minutes and 48 seconds after fuel flow ceased. The final recorded total fuel used for the flight was 62 gallons.