SANTA YNEZ, CA, USA
N8663A
BEECH A-35
THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING 'S' TURNS ON FINAL TO ALLOW SPACING FOR A GLIDER DEPARTURE. AS THE PILOT ADDED THROTTLE THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A HILLY BRUSH COVERED AREA. THE CARBURETOR WAS FUNCTIONALLY TESTED TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS, HOWEVER, IT WAS FOUND TO BE ON THE RICH SIDE. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE UNIT REVEALED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTAKE AIR SECTION OF THE CARBURETOR FROM A CRACKED RUBBER DIAPHRAM. ACCORDING TO BENDIX, THE CARBURETOR SHOULD BE OVERHAULED AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE IS OVERHAULED. DETAILED REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE CARBURETOR WAS OVERHAULED DURING THE LAST ENGINE OVERHAUL.
AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL LEAKAGE FROM A RUPTURED DIAPHRAM IN THE CARBURETOR; FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT OWNER TO COMPLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED COMPONENT OVERHAUL INTERVALS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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