Accident Overview
On July 27, 2014, at 0917 mountain daylight time, a Beech 35-C33A airplane, registration N72CW, impacted terrain short of runway 8L at Pueblo Memorial Airport (KPUB), Pueblo, Colorado. The airplane was registered to and operated by Henke Petroleum Corporation of Shawnee, Oklahoma, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Shawnee Regional Airport (KSNL), Shawnee, Oklahoma, about 0725 central daylight time.
Flight and Pilot Report
According to the pilot's accident report, he was cleared to land on runway 8L. On final approach with the engine idling, he advanced the mixture control to FULL RICH and the propeller control to HIGH RPM in case he had to make a go-around. The engine immediately lost power and the airplane started losing altitude. The pilot saw a ravine ahead. He turned south to avoid the ravine and made a forced landing on rough terrain.
Aircraft Examination
On August 13, 2014, the engine and airframe were examined at Beegles Aircraft Service in Greeley, Colorado. No airframe anomalies were found. Flight control continuity was established. The elevator trim indicator read 5 units UP. The left and right elevator trim actuator extensions were approximately 1 11/16 inches, equivalent to approximately 15° trim tab down (nose up). Both flap actuator extensions were measured and found to be about 1 9/16 inches, equivalent to approximately 0°, or flaps up. The landing gear switch was down and the landing gear actuator was extended. The Hobbs meter read 149.3 hours and the tachometer recorder read 976.29 hours.
The fuel selector was found positioned on the left main fuel tank. A clear rudder tube was inserted into the left wing fuel pipe; air was blown into the tube and fuel ejected. The fuel selector handle was rotated to the right main tank and the procedure repeated; fuel ejected as well. The left and right wing bladder fuel tanks were intact. The recovery crew stated that about 25 gallons of fuel was drained from the right wing, and about ½ gallon from the left wing.
The top spark plugs were removed and examined; color and wear patterns were consistent with a normal condition per the Champion Check-A-Plug chart. Cylinders were examined using a lighted borescope; all were intact, undamaged, appeared dry, exhibited normal heat signatures with normal combustion deposits. The engine-driven fuel pump drive coupling was examined and found intact; the pump was free to rotate by hand without restriction.
Engine Test and Fuel Analysis
The engine was shipped to Continental Motors in Mobile, Alabama, where on October 30, 2014, it was functionally tested in a test stand. The engine was operated to full power and no anomalies were noted, though a small leak in the metering unit due to impact damage was observed.
The Continental Motors representative calculated fuel consumption: the straight-line distance from Shawnee, Oklahoma, to Pueblo, Colorado, is 464 nautical miles. At an average cruising speed of 160 knots, the flight would take about 2.9 hours. The IO-550 engine burns about 16 gallons per hour in cruise, totaling about 46.4 gallons consumed. Subtracting that from the 74 gallons usable leaves approximately 27.6 gallons. Subtracting the 25 gallons recovered from the right wing leaves about 2.5 gallons estimated to have remained in the left tank. These calculations do not account for winds aloft or fuel consumed during takeoff (approximately 26 gph), maneuvering, or entering the traffic pattern.