On July 30, 2018, about 1000 central daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane, N1856W, impacted terrain while on a visual approach to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD), Brainerd, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The pilot stated that during preflight, both fuel tanks contained about 37 gallons of fuel. He departed Poplar Grove Airport (C77), Poplar Grove, Illinois, about 0807 with the right tank selected and flew toward BRD for about an hour, then selected the left fuel tank. About two miles prior to landing at BRD, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot attempted several corrective actions, to include selecting the right fuel tank and increasing the mixture control, with no effect. The pilot executed a forced landing into birch trees, which damaged both wings. The airplane came to rest nose down, and the pilot and passenger exited the airplane out of a passenger window.
One week prior to the accident, while in cruise flight between C77 and BRD, the pilot noticed the engine sputter momentarily after he moved the fuel selector from the right to left fuel tank. About an hour later, engine began to sputter during the approach to BRD. The pilot selected the right fuel tank and turned on the electric boost pump. The engine ran smoothly, and the pilot landed uneventfully.
While on the taxiway, the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the issue by selecting the left fuel tank, which resulted in the engine sputtering and stopping. The pilot restarted the engine with the right fuel tank selected and taxied to parking. While in parking, he selected the left fuel tank and the engine stopped again.
A mechanic at BRD attempted to identify a cause for the engine stoppages. The fuel lines forward of the firewall were visually inspected, with no anomalies noted. The engine driven and electric boost pumps operated normally. No fuel pressure anomalies were noted during an engine test run. After conducting several landings at BRD, the pilot returned to C77 without incident.
A review of the J.P. Instruments EDM-700 data indicated that the power loss that occurred during both flights and on the ground was consistent with a loss of fuel supply to the engine. Fuel consumed was about 36 gallons when all the power loss events occurred, with about 19 gallons of fuel present in the left fuel tank.
Examination of the airplane and fuel systems at the recovery facility revealed the fuel selector was in the right tank position and the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were all pushed full forward, with normal continuity. The engine had normal continuity during manual rotation and no anomalies were noted during borescope inspection of the cylinders.
The engine driven fuel pump rotated freely, with no fuel present in the pump cavity. The pump drive and impeller blades were intact and exhibited normal wear patterns. The fuel screen was absent contamination. Both fuel tank cap seals were in good condition. The electric boost pump was checked at low- and high-pressure settings, with and without fuel. No anomalies were noted.
The left tank fuel vent one-way check valve was clear and installed correctly. Air pressure was blown through the fuel vent line, with no restrictions. Although only one gallon of fuel was drained from the left tank, fuel was observed leaking out of the left-wing fuel vent at the accident site before the airplane was recovered.
The left-wing fuel bladder attachments were in place and the flapper valve operated normally, with no blockages to the fuel return or vent openings. The bladder was removed from the wing and found to be in normal condition, with a small amount of debris inside. The bladder was filled with 38 gallons of water and did not leak.
The fuel selector left detent was worn. During the examination when the fuel selector handle was manipulated within the worn detent area, fuel flow became turbulent. Fuel flow reduced to a trickle when the handle was moved beyond the center of the detent. At a test pressure of 3.1 psi, fuel flow in the left and right detent positions was 76 and 94 lbs. per hour, respectively. Without manual manipulation of the fuel selector, the valve would not move out of the detent position.