Summary
On January 28, 2023, at about 1720 eastern standard time, a Beech A23 aircraft, registration N16TH, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Miami, Florida. The pilot and three passengers on board were not injured. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Accident Details
According to the pilot, he had been on a local flight at an altitude of 1,000 feet for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes when he noticed the engine losing power. He switched fuel tanks in an attempt to restore power, but the action did not help. The pilot identified a nearby road as a suitable landing area and initiated an approach. During the landing flare, the airplane struck a bus, then skidded off the road and collided with a pole before coming to rest. The pilot reported that he had departed with a total of 25 gallons of fuel.
Examination of the Airplane
Post-accident examination revealed that the right wing sustained substantial damage to the leading edge. An initial check of the intact fuel tanks showed some fuel in the right tank gauge, while the left fuel tank appeared empty. An engine test run was conducted at the accident site. With the right fuel tank selected and the boost pump on, the engine started and ran normally between 1,200 and 1,500 rpm. After shutdown, the engine was restarted using the left fuel tank. With the boost pump on, the engine struggled, idling between 600 and 800 rpm before stopping. The right tank was then defueled, yielding about 10 gallons of fuel, while only a residual amount was recovered from the left tank. No other anomalies were found in the fuel system.
Findings
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, primarily to the right wing leading edge. The pilot and passengers were uninjured. The investigation did not determine a specific cause for the engine power loss, but fuel management issues were noted.