Accident Overview
On March 8, 2020, about 1015 central daylight time, a Beech V35, registration N581U, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees about 2,000 ft short of the runway at Destin, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight.
Flight Details
The airplane had been refueled the day before the accident, filling both fuel tanks to a total of 80 gallons, of which 74 gallons were usable—sufficient for about 4.5 hours of flight. The pilot departed and climbed to 9,000 ft mean sea level. He reported switching fuel tanks every 30 minutes and estimated a fuel burn of about 16 gallons per hour en route, expecting over 20 gallons remaining at arrival.
Loss of Engine Power
During a 5-mile final approach to the destination airport, the pilot conducted a pre-landing check that included switching fuel tanks. About 1.5 miles from the runway, the engine lost total power without sputtering or coughing; the propeller windmilled. The pilot attempted troubleshooting by switching the fuel selector again, checking magnetos, ensuring mixture was rich, and attempting an engine restart, but power could not be restored. The airplane descended and struck trees adjacent to a residence, coming to rest in a nose-down, 60° left bank. The pilot could not recall which fuel tank was selected during his approach checks or after the power loss, and he did not remember turning on the auxiliary fuel pump.
Previous Occurrence
The pilot reported that this was the second time in 12 months the engine unexpectedly quit on final approach. The first time, he landed safely and was able to restart the engine after landing. A mechanic examined the airplane after that event but found no reason for the power loss.
Data Recorder Analysis
A JPI 700 Engine Data Monitor revealed the flight duration was about 3.24 hours. No anomalies in exhaust gas temperature, cylinder head temperature, or oil temperature were noted during takeoff, climb, or cruise. At about 1012, during descent and approach, a simultaneous decrease in these temperatures and fuel flow occurred. Fuel flow dropped from 14 gallons per hour to zero over 12 seconds and did not resume.
Post-Accident Examination
The left wing was severely deformed and bent upward; the right wing had significant leading edge crushing at the root. Two propeller blades were intact with no damage; one blade was slightly curled. The left fuel tank was ruptured and contained no evidence of fuel. The right fuel tank, positioned nearly vertical, was void of fuel. The fuel selector was found positioned to the left fuel tank. Several ounces of clear, blue-tinted fuel were observed in the gascolator. The pilot reported fuel leaking from the right tank after the accident, and an FAA inspector noted a fuel odor. Engine and accessory examination revealed no irregularities. The propeller was rotated with compression noted, and when an external fuel source was supplied, the engine started and operated normally through various power settings, including full throttle, with no anomalies.