Rock Springs, WY, USA
N4972M
BEECH A36
The pilot reported that during an uneventful flight, she continued past her original destination to another destination. Shortly thereafter, the pilot observed fuel streaming from the left fuel tank cap and noted that the left fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank was about 3/4 full. The pilot continued the flight toward her new destination while continuing to use fuel from the left fuel tank. As the airplane neared the new destination, the pilot observed that the left fuel tank was about 1/2 full; the engine then lost power. After the engine lost power, the pilot switched fuel tanks and advanced both the throttle and mixture control levers; however, the engine did not restart, so she performed an off-airport landing to an open field. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that the fuel cap was not secured properly after refueling. As a result, fuel was siphoned from that fuel tank during the flight. Further, because the pilot had chosen to continue operating on that fuel tank, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation. A pressure differential likely resulted in the inaccurate fuel gauge indication. Examination of the left fuel tank cap and seal revealed no evidence of any preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
On June 22, 2012, about 1100 mountain daylight time, a Beech A36, N4972M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Rock Springs, Wyoming. The airplane was registered to Waldo Air, Bend, Oregon, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Bend Municipal Airport (BDN), Bend, Oregon, at 0717 Pacific daylight time with an intended destination of Rock Springs, Wyoming. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that she originally intended on landing in Gooding, Idaho, however, decided to continue to Rock Springs, Wyoming, since the flight was going well. After passing Gooding, she noticed fuel streaming out of the left wing fuel tank cap and observed the left fuel gauge indicating three-quarters of a tank of fuel. The pilot stated that she continued to use fuel from the left fuel tank until about 25 miles west of Rock Springs, where she noted that the left wing fuel tank gauge showed a level of about half. Subsequently, the engine “quit abruptly” at an altitude of about 1,500 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot switched to the right fuel tank and advanced the throttle and mixture, however, the engine did not restart and she initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed. The pilot added that she should have turned the fuel boost pump on and attempted the restart procedure, however, did not have a lot of time to do so since the airplane was at an altitude of about 1,000 feet agl. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that the fuel cap was not secured properly after refueling. Damage to the airplane was determined to be substantial about one month after repairs to the airplane had begun. The repair facility reported that the nose gear was compressed aft into the engine firewall. The engine overhaul facility reported that no mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine during the overhaul process. Examination of the left and right fuel tank cap and seals by an NTSB investigator revealed no evidence of any preexisting anomalies.
The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because of the incorrectly installed fuel cap. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight using fuel from the left fuel tank after she observed fuel streaming from the left fuel tank cap.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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