Accident Overview
On December 17, 2016, at 1607 eastern standard time, a Beech A36, registration N410BC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Ormond Beach, Florida. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, with day visual meteorological conditions prevailing. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at DeLand Municipal Airport (DED) around 1430 and was destined for Mid Florida Air Service Airport (X55) in Eustis, Florida.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported in a telephone interview that he was practicing maneuvers at 1,200 feet when the left fuel tank ran dry, causing the engine to lose all power. He stated that his normal procedure was to exhaust fuel in one tank before switching to the other. He attempted an engine restart after switching to the right tank, which he said held 40 gallons of fuel. The engine did not restart, and he performed a forced landing in a field. After touchdown, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.
The pilot did not complete and return the NTSB Form 6120.1, nor did he provide aircraft maintenance records when requested by the FAA. The details of the latest annual inspection were unavailable.
Wreckage and Engine Examination
The wreckage was recovered on December 22, 2017. The left wing was substantially damaged, and its fuel tank was breached. The fuselage sustained structural damage. The right wing had minimal damage, and its fuel tank was undamaged. No fuel was found in either wing fuel tank, and the wing tank selector handle was in the "OFF" position.
The engine was examined on April 6, 2017. Hand rotation produced compression and suction on all six cylinders, with all gears rotating. Top spark plugs were intact with light grey electrodes. The engine-driven fuel pump was removed; its drive coupling was intact, and the pump rotated smoothly. The fuel pump was then forwarded to the manufacturer for further examination. It showed impact damage and a fractured AN fitting, but after replacement of the fitting, the pump operated normally in testing, with no anomalies.
Pilot Medical History and Toxicology
According to FAA medical records, the pilot was first medically certified in 1978. In 2004, he reported hypertension treated with medication. In February 2008, he was hospitalized for several weeks with complications of chronic alcoholism, then underwent rehabilitation, which he reported to the FAA. Following additional evaluations, the FAA granted a special issuance third-class medical certificate in 2009, contingent on periodic alcohol testing. At his last aviation medical examination on August 30, 2011, he reported 1,650 total flight hours. In September 2011, he tested positive for alcohol, and the FAA withdrew his medical certificate in November 2011.
After the accident, the pilot was taken to a hospital by helicopter. Blood drawn at 1709 tested positive for 0.177 gm/dl of alcohol. No other toxicology testing was performed. Back-calculation based on ethanol elimination rates indicated that at the time of the accident, the pilot's alcohol level was likely at or above 0.185 gm/dl, exceeding the 0.040 gm/dl limit under 14 CFR Part 91.17(a).