Accident Overview
On December 4, 2015, at 1615 eastern standard time, a Beechcraft D35, registration N2991B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the Vine Grove Airport (70KY) in Vine Grove, Kentucky. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and owner of the aircraft, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported his intention to conduct pattern work. He performed a preflight inspection, visually checking the fuel in the left and right main tanks, estimating each contained 15 gallons. The airplane was equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank of 20 gallons, but the pilot noted that its fuel quantity could not be checked visually. He started the engine, taxied to the run-up area, completed the before-takeoff checklist with no anomalies, and then configured the airplane for takeoff. During climbout, at about 150 feet above ground level, the engine "quit." The pilot did not have sufficient altitude to return to the airport, nor time to attempt an engine restart or make radio calls. He performed an emergency off-airport landing on a road.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. The right wing and firewall were buckled. The left main wing fuel tank contained an undetermined amount of fuel. Fuel samples from the left main tank and the fuselage auxiliary tank appeared clear with no water or debris. The right wing fuel tank was breached, and its fuel quick drain valve was jammed. The smell of fuel was noted around the airplane. The fuel selector was moved from the off position to the auxiliary position; when the fuel supply line was removed from the carburetor, very little fuel exited. The fuel strainer was removed and yielded a very small amount of fuel; it was free of debris. The auxiliary fuel tank drain valve was removed, and about 1 gallon of fuel drained out.
Pilot Statement
After the examination, the pilot stated: "The D-35 has only one fuel gage and two switches used to select the tank indicated. The fuel selector has four positions, left, right, auxiliary and off. You can have the fuel selector on the auxiliary tank and the fuel indicator on a different tank. It is possible that I mistakenly verified the fuel level in the auxiliary tank with the indicator set to one of the main tanks." He also stated that he did not remember which fuel tank he had selected before takeoff.
Aircraft Information
According to the pilot's operating handbook (POH) for the D35, the airplane was equipped with a 20-gallon fuel tank in each wing, with 34 gallons usable. All fuel in the auxiliary tank was usable. The top spark plugs exhibited normal wear with light gray deposits in the electrode areas. The crankshaft was rotated by hand, and spark was noted on each spark plug lead. The limitations section of the POH states: "Use auxiliary fuel in level flight only and do not use for takeoff or landing. Use at least 10 gallons from left main tank before use of auxiliary fuel or right main tank."