Accident Details
On January 26, 2019, at approximately 1540 eastern standard time, a Beech S35, registration N6136V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lexington, Kentucky. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot's written statement and conversations with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, air traffic control vectored the airplane for landing on runway 22 (elevation 972 ft). The airplane was sequenced behind another aircraft landing on the same runway. Preliminary radar data showed the airplane at 2,300 feet mean sea level when it turned and aligned with the runway 6.3 miles from the approach end. The final radar target was at 2,100 feet and 3.8 miles from the approach end.
The pilot reported that the airplane was “high” on the approach and he performed a slip to descend to the desired angle. About 1,000 feet above ground level, he added power to maintain the approach angle, but the engine did not respond. Remedial actions to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and the airplane lacked sufficient altitude to glide to the runway.
The pilot selected a horse farm directly beneath the flight path for the forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane struck several fences dividing the property, causing substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The airplane came to rest upright 1.4 miles from the approach end of runway 22.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1965 and had accumulated 6,181 total aircraft hours. It was equipped with a Continental IO-550B, 300-horsepower engine driving a controllable-pitch propeller. Fuel system included a 40-gallon main fuel tank in each wing and a 15-gallon auxiliary fuel tank mounted on each wing tip.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector confirmed control continuity from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. The left main fuel tank was compromised and leaked fuel. The auxiliary tip tanks were destroyed by impact and contained no fuel. During initial examination and subsequent recovery, the inspector supervised defueling, capturing 16 gallons of fuel from the right main fuel tank and about 15 gallons from the left main fuel tank. The auxiliary fuel transfer pump switches were found in the “ON” position.
After recovery, an engine run was attempted at the recovery facility. Work performed included removal of the damaged propeller for a donor propeller, plumbing of an external fuel supply due to voided fuel tanks, removal of the dead battery for a donor battery, and hoisting and securing the airplane. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. A magneto check was satisfactory. The engine was not accelerated beyond 1,200 rpm due to impact damage and excessive vibration.
A placard on the instrument panel cautioned: “Avoid prolonged slips (20 seconds or more) with fuel tanks less than half full.”