BE35 PLT MAKES EMER LNDG DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE FUEL SYS WHEN A DIAPHRAGM IN THE PRESSURE CARBURETOR RUPTURES. ACFT EQUIP PROB CARBURETOR DIAPHRAGM.

Date: 1996-05 · Aircraft: Bonanza 35 · Phase: approach

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical

Synopsis

BE35 PLT MAKES EMER LNDG DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE FUEL SYS WHEN A DIAPHRAGM IN THE PRESSURE CARBURETOR RUPTURES. ACFT EQUIP PROB CARBURETOR DIAPHRAGM.

Narrative

I MADE A FORCED LNDG ON I-35 N OF ANKENY; IA. THE CAUSE COULD BE CONTRIBUTED TO A DIAPHRAGM RUPTURE IN THE PRESSURE CARBURETOR ON MY BEECH 35 BONANZA. HOWEVER; THE FORCED LNDG COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I HAD FLOWN THE BONANZA 10 HRS SINCE I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE PLANE. I READ THE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS ON FUEL MGMNT; BUT REMEMBERED THE INSTRUCTIONS BACKWARDS. I HAD BEEN FLYING ON THE R TANK FIRST ALWAYS; NOT THE L. THERE WERE NO PLACARDS AROUND THE FUEL SYS TO TELL ME TO USE THE L TANK FIRST. I HAD TALKED WITH 2 BONANZA PLTS ASKING ABOUT POSSIBLE BONANZA 'QUIRKS.' THE FUEL MGMNT REQUIREMENT WAS NOT MENTIONED. 1 HR; 30 MINS OF FUEL LEFT THE TANK IN 35 MINS; EMPTYING THE TANK. AS I PULLED THE PWR BACK; NEARING THE ARPT; THE ENG SPUTTERED AND DIED. I SWITCHED TO THE L TANK. AFTER 10 SECONDS FUEL PRESSURE AND ENG PWR WERE NOT RESTORED. I THEN STARTED PUMPING WITH THE PISTON PUMP; BUT COULD NOT PUMP UP PRESSURE; ALTHOUGH THE ENG SPUTTERED; IT DID NOT MAKE PWR. I COULD NOT PUMP UP NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE GND AFTERWARD; EITHER; EVEN THOUGH FUEL GUSHED OUT OF THE CARBURETOR. HOWEVER; I BELIEVE THAT IF I WENT BY THE GAS GAUGES BESIDES FLYING TIME PER TANK; I WOULD HAVE NOTICED MY RAPID USE OF FUEL; AND SWITCHED TANKS BEFORE THE R TANK WENT DRY AND CAVITATION OCCURRED. ALSO; I SHOULD HAVE CORRECTLY REMEMBERED L TANK FIRST. THE FUEL RETURN IS NOT TO THE R TANK; AS I REMEMBERED; BUT TO THE L ONE. ALSO; WHEN I NEXT BUY A PLANE; I WILL FIND OUT WHAT PLACARDS ARE TO BE PUT IN THAT PLANE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE THERE BEFORE I FLY IT. I LANDED SAFELY. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE PLANE OR ANYTHING ELSE.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.