Accident Overview
On September 6, 2014, at 1005 eastern daylight time, a Navion Navion A, registration N4900K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power on approach to Rock Hill Airport (UZA), Rock Hill, South Carolina. The private pilot/owner and two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Triple Tree Aerodrome (SC00), Woodruff, South Carolina, about 0930. The personal flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Information
In a written statement, the pilot reported that the airplane had a 60-gallon fuel capacity, and he departed with approximately 26 gallons in the main tanks and about 4 gallons in the auxiliary tank, for the 35-minute flight to UZA, where he planned to refuel for a return flight to Collegedale, Tennessee. The pilot stated that the airplane was in cruise flight at about 2,800 feet, with engine power set at 21 inches of manifold pressure and 2,000 rpm. About 30 minutes after departure, the engine abruptly stopped producing power. The pilot turned on the electric fuel pump, switched fuel tanks, applied full throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat, and attempted an engine restart, but the engine would not restart. The pilot selected an open field for a forced landing about 3 miles from the destination airport.
During the descent, the pilot noticed that fuel pressure was 2-3 psi, well below the normal operating range of 11-14 psi. Opening and closing the throttle momentarily produced power, but engine power was never fully restored. The forced landing resulted in the airplane striking a fence and a ditch, separating the landing gear. The airplane came to rest upright with substantial damage to the engine compartment, fuselage, and empennage. After the accident, the pilot reentered the cockpit and moved the fuel selector and electric fuel pump switch to the "off" position.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued June 20, 2014. He reported 525 total flight hours, of which 194 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1949 and equipped with a 205-horsepower Continental E-185-3 six-cylinder engine. Its most recent annual inspection was completed October 1, 2013, at 3,262.9 total aircraft hours.
Engine and Fuel System Examination
The wreckage was recovered by local law enforcement and stored in an impound lot, where a preliminary examination was performed by an FAA aviation safety inspector. The main fuel tanks and fuel lines to the engine contained fuel. The aircraft was subsequently recovered by recovery specialists, who reported fuel in the main tanks but an empty auxiliary fuel tank. Photographs taken during recovery showed the fuel selector in the "Aux" position.
The engine and airframe were examined in Atlanta, Georgia on October 22, 2014. A borescope examination of the cylinders revealed normal wear. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller, and continuity was established through the powertrain and valve train to the accessory section. Compression was confirmed using the thumb method. Both magnetos produced spark at all terminal leads. The carburetor was disassembled with no blockages or anomalies noted.
The engine-driven fuel pump was undamaged and intact in its mount. The pump was removed, and its inlet line was submerged in a solvent tank. When actuated with an electric drill, the pump discharged solvent from the outlet port. The electric fuel pump, when actuated using the aircraft's electrical system, also pumped fluid.
Examination of a Navion "Range Chart" for a Continental E-185-3-equipped airplane indicated fuel consumption rates of 8 gallons per hour at 1,700 rpm, 10 gallons per hour at 1,900 rpm, and 12.5 gallons per hour at 2,180 rpm at 2,000 feet altitude. At 70 percent power, cruise airspeed was about 130 knots. The straight-line distance from SC00 to UZA was 50.2 nautical miles.