Accident Details
On January 13, 2019, at approximately 1400 Pacific standard time, a Beech B35 airplane, registration N5093C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Hadlock, Washington. The commercial pilot, flying a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, received minor injuries.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from Jefferson County International Airport (0S9), the single-entry door on the right side of the airplane opened. He continued climbing to pattern altitude and then turned onto a left downwind leg to return to the airport. While on downwind, the pilot noticed that the left fuel gauge indicated full but showed no needle movement when he expected it to change. The right fuel gauge indicated empty, although it should have shown a full reading of 20 gallons. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power. The pilot maneuvered toward a small grass area visible through a gap in the trees. During the landing attempt, the right wing struck a large tree trunk, nearly separating the wing from the fuselage. No postcrash fire occurred.
Post-Accident Observations
First responders arriving shortly after the accident reported no smell of fuel at the site. The pilot stated that the airplane seemed to have no fuel. He had reported departing with approximately 45 gallons of fuel onboard.
Aircraft Examination
Examination revealed that the right main fuel tank and right tip tank were breached during the accident sequence, while the left main fuel tank and left tip tank remained intact. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. Recovery personnel drained about 12 gallons of fuel from the left main and left tip tanks. The fuel selector handle rotated freely through 360 degrees without binding or interruption; all detents were identifiable by feel. The investigation found no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.