NTSB Factual Report

On July 27, 2014, at 0917 mountain daylight time, a Beech 35-C33A airplane, N72CW, impacted terrain short of runway 8L at Pueblo Memorial Airport (KPUB), Pueblo, Colorado. The pilot was not injured, but his passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Henke Petroleum Corporation of Shawnee, Oklahoma, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Shawnee Regional Airport (KSNL), Shawnee, Oklahoma, about 0725 central daylight time.

According to the pilot's accident report, he was cleared to land on runway 8L at PUB. On final approach with the engine idling, he advanced the mixture control to FULL RICH and the propeller control to HIGH RPM in case he had to make a go-around. The engine immediately lost power and the airplane started losing altitude. The pilot saw a ravine ahead. He turned south to avoid the ravine and made a forced landing on rough terrain.

On August13, 2014, the engine and airframe were examined at Beegles Aircraft Service in Greeley, Colorado. No airframe anomalies were found. Flight control continuity was established. The elevator trim indicator read 5 units UP. The left and right elevator trim actuator extensions were approximately 1 11/16 inches, equivalent to approximately 15° trim tab down (nose up). Both flap actuator extensions were measured and found to be about 1 9/16 inches, equivalent to approximately 0°, or flaps up. The landing gear switch was down and the landing gear actuator was extended. The Hobbs meter read 149.3 hours and the tachometer recorder read 976.29 hours.

The fuel selector was found positioned on the left main fuel tank. A clear rudder tube was inserted into the left wing fuel pipe. Air was blown into the clear tube and fuel ejected from the fuel pipe. The fuel selector handle was rotated to the right main tank and the procedure was repeated. Fuel ejected from the fuel pipe. The left and right wing bladder fuel tanks were intact. The recovery crew stated that about 25 gallons of fuel was drained from the right wing, and about ½ gallon of fuel was drained from the left wing.

The top spark plugs were removed and examined. When compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug chart, the color and wear patterns were consistent with a normal condition. The cylinders were examined using a lighted borescope. All cylinders were intact, undamaged, and appeared dry. They exhibited normal heat signatures with normal combustion deposits. The engine driven fuel pump drive coupling was examined and found intact. The pump was free to rotate by hand without restriction.

The engine was shipped to Continental Motors in Mobile, Alabama, where, on October 30, 2014, it was functionally tested in a test stand. The engine was operated to full power and no anomalies were noted. There was, however, a small leak in the metering unit due to impact damage.

The Continental Motors representative was asked to calculate to fuel consumed and the following is what he reported. The straight line distance from Shawnee, OK, to Pueblo, CO, is 464 nautical miles. At an average cruising speed of 160 knots, it would take about 2.9 hours to travel this distance. The IO-550 will burn about 16 gallons per hour (gph) in cruise flight. Thus, 46.4 gallons would be consumed in this time period. Subtracting 46.4 gallons from the 74 gallons useable would leave approximately 27.6 gallons. Subtracting 25 gallons that was recovered by the salvage crew from the right wing leaves 2.5 gallons, which is the amount estimated to have remained in the left tank. These calculations do not take into account winds aloft or the fuel consumed for takeoff (approximately 26 gph ), maneuvering after departure or upon arrival, and entering the traffic pattern.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s improper fuel management and resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain.