History of Flight
On August 18, 2022, about 0853 central daylight time, a Beech F33A airplane, registration N17747, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR), Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice landings in the airport traffic pattern. Shortly after takeoff, he encountered instrument meteorological conditions and requested an instrument flight rules clearance to return for a full-stop landing. He was issued radar vectors to join the instrument landing system (ILS) approach for runway 22R. After aligning with the localizer inbound, the pilot extended the landing gear and selected 15° of wing flaps.
The airplane was high on the glideslope when it descended below the clouds at about 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot reduced engine power and lowered the airplane's pitch to increase the descent rate. At about 1,000 ft msl, he further reduced power, but after a "small bump," there was a total loss of engine power, confirmed by a drop in manifold pressure. He was unable to restore power despite increasing throttle and mixture controls, checking both magnetos, and engaging the starter motor.
Declaring an emergency, the pilot executed a forced landing in a grass area short of runway 22R. The airplane clipped trees and bounced during the landing.
Engine monitor and airplane track data revealed that at 0852:07, there was a sudden and total loss of fuel flow to the engine, corresponding with a decrease in exhaust gas temperature for all six cylinders. The loss of power occurred as the airplane descended through 1,200 ft msl. After the loss of power, manifold pressure increased to 30.70 inches of mercury, consistent with a full-forward throttle and a windmilling propeller. No fuel flow was recorded for the remainder of the flight.
Aircraft and Wreckage
The Beech F33A is equipped with a standard 50-gallon fuel system comprising two 25-gallon wing tanks (22 gallons usable each). The pilot reported departing with 34 gallons of fuel.
The airplane came to rest nose-down in a grass area outside the airport perimeter fence, about 975 feet before the runway 22R threshold and 550 feet left of the extended centerline. The nose landing gear collapsed during the hard landing. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. The engine and propeller remained attached.
The push-pull throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were intact and functional. The cockpit fuel selector and electric fuel pump were found in the OFF position. The right wing contained about 15 gallons of fuel, and the left wing contained about 6 gallons. No evidence of a fuel leak was found in the engine compartment or on the exterior. The airframe fuel filter and throttle/control unit inlet screen were wet with fuel and free of contamination. Fuel was present in the return lines. The engine-driven fuel pump drive coupling was intact.
Engine Examination
Top spark plugs showed normal engine operation features. Internal engine and valvetrain continuity were confirmed when the crankshaft was rotated via the propeller. Compression and suction were noted on all six cylinders. Both magnetos produced spark on all leads. The left magneto ground wire (P-lead) was found broken. The engine oil and filter were free of metal or debris. The examination found no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal operation.
Further examination and testing of the throttle and control unit, engine-driven fuel pump, fuel distribution valve, and fuel flow transducer revealed no anomalies that would have caused the sudden and total loss of fuel flow during flight.