Monday, July 13, 2020

Fuel Starvation: Beech A36 Bonanza, N6677D; accident occurred July 25, 2015 near Dutchess County Airport (KPOU), Poughkeepsie, New York


Pilot Keith Kilgallen and his wife, Margaret discuss their experience.




The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this incident.

Additional Participating Entities: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Teterboro, New Jersey
Continental Motors Inc; Mobile, Alabama

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N6677D 

Location:  Poughkeepsie, NY

Accident Number: ERA15LA286
Date & Time: 07/25/2015, 1040 EDT
Registration: N6677D
Aircraft: BEECH A36
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel starvation
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On July 25, 2015, about 1040 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36; N6677D, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing, after a partial loss of power during takeoff at Duchess County Airport (POU), Poughkeepsie, New York. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the flight, conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, destined for Burlington National Airport (BTV), Burlington, Vermont.

According to the pilot, after arriving at POU from Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania, he purchased 15 gallons of fuel and then sumped the tanks in preparation for the next leg of the flight to BTV.

After starting the engine he taxied out, did his engine runup, checked the magnetos, and cycled the propeller. Then during the takeoff from runway 24, he noticed a vibration and unusual noise as he rotated. He believed that it may have been from the wheels and applied the brakes to stop the wheels from rotating and retracted the landing gear but, the vibration continued. He was however unable to continue climbing, as the engine suddenly incurred a partial loss of power.

He checked that the propeller, throttle, and mixture, was full forward but the airplane still would not climb. With the airspeed being low, he knew that he could not make it back to the airport without stalling the airplane.

There were "trees everywhere" and a set of power lines directly ahead of him. He then pulled back on the control wheel, was able to clear the power lines, and then "forced the nose down" to prevent the airplane from stalling, and landed gear up about 300 feet from the power lines. 

Pilot Information


Certificate: Private
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/05/2014
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/01/2015
Flight Time:  8954 hours (Total, all aircraft), 6311 hours (Total, this make and model), 8896 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 92 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 34 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane single engine sea, and instrument airplane. His most recent application for a FAA third-class medical certificate was dated August 5, 2014. The pilot reported that he had accrued approximately 8,954 total hours of flight experience, of which 6,311 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information


Aircraft Make: BEECH
Registration: N6677D
Model/Series: A36
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: E-1581
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/17/2014, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3651 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 97 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6796.6 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-520-BB
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 285 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

The accident airplane was a low wing, retractable single engine airplane, of conventional metal construction, equipped with retractable tricycle type landing gear. It was powered by an air cooled, 6-cylinder, horizontally opposed, 285 horsepower Continental IO-520-BB engine driving a McCauley 3-bladed, variable pitch, constant speed propeller.

According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1979. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on December 17, 2014. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued 6,796.6 total hours of operation. 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: POU, 164 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1047 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 235°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C / 13°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Poughkeepsie, NY (POU)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: BURLINGTON, VT (BTV)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 1042 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class D

The recorded weather at POU, at 1047, about 7 minutes after the accident, included: calm winds, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 25° C, dew point 13° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of mercury.

Airport Information


Airport: Dutchess County Airport (POU)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 164 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 24
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5001 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing; Straight-in 

POU was owned by Dutchess County and was a public use, tower-controlled airport. It was located four miles south of Poughkeepsie, New York. The airport elevation was 165 feet above mean sea level.

There were two runways oriented in an 6/24 and 15/33 configuration.

Runway 24, had a left-hand traffic pattern, was asphalt, grooved, and in excellent condition. The total length was 5,001 feet-long and 100 feet-wide.

It was marked with precision markings in good condition and equipped with high intensity runway edge lights.

Obstructions were present off the departure end of the runway in the form of 18 ft trees, located 380 ft from the runway, 300 ft right of centerline which took a 10:1 slope to clear.

Wreckage and Impact Information


Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.626667, -73.884167 (est) 

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had initially touched down on its belly in a grassy area, then traveled over the top of a large rock and came to rest.

Examination of the airplane revealed that it had touched down with the landing gear in the up (stowed) position. All major parts of the airplane were on site, and the airplane had been substantially damaged when it struck and traveled over the rock.

The outboard sections of all three blades of the propeller had been bent backwards, the right side nose wheel door had separated at the hinge line, the aft portion of the lower cowling had been buckled and crushed, the upper cowling had partially opened on impact.

The nose landing gear wheel well had been crushed upward, and both right side engine mounts were fractured. The throttle body had one of the mount lugs fractured and two of the fuel fittings were fractured.

The lower portion of the firewall was buckled, and the fuselage had buckled just aft of the firewall. The wing flaps were in the 15°position, and the inboard portion of the left wing flap was bent. Fuel was observable in both the left, and right, wing tanks. 

Tests And Research


Review of Maintenance Records


Review of maintenance records and the Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report submitted by the pilot, indicated that the factory rebuilt engine was installed on the airplane on February 23, 2012, at a recorded tachometer time of 6,103.9 hours.

On June 14, 2013, at 279.1 hours after engine installation, maintenance personnel replaced the airplane's auxiliary fuel pump (fuel boost pump).

On February 6, 2014, (tachometer and engine time not specified), maintenance personnel located in Fort Pierce, Florida, "bled fuel line, checked fuel strainer, cleaned injectors due to rough running engine." The engine was test run and returned to service.

On February 7, 2014, at an unspecified tachometer and engine time, maintenance personnel located in Stuart, Florida, "removed all spark plugs, cleaned, gapped, and rotated upon reinstallation, removed all fuel injectors cleaned inspected and reinstalled, [and performed] aircraft operational and functional check" with no discrepancies noted.

On December 17, 2014, at a recorded tachometer time of 6,796.6 hours, the engine underwent an annual inspection. On December 18, 2014 (same tachometer reading as annual inspection), the spark plugs were removed, cleaned, and reinstalled, and the ignition leads, and magnetos were checked with no anomalies noted.

On May 11, 2015, at a tachometer time of 6,881 hours, the engine underwent an oil and oil filter change.

According to the pilot, the engine had accumulated 790 hours at the time of the accident.

Engine Test Run


On November 2, 2015, in order to help determine why in the maintenance records the engine had been reported to have been running rough and why the loss of engine power had occurred, an engine test run was performed.

Prior to the test run several airframe related items were removed in preparation for operation in the test cell. The removed items included:

- Both fractured Engine mounts (right front and right rear)
- Fuel fittings (the throttle body outlet and mixture return)
- Cooling Baffles
- Propeller Governor

The following substitute or repaired parts were then installed for engine operation:

- Engine Mount legs
- Fuel fittings

The magneto-to-engine timing which was specified to be 22° before top dead center (BTDC) was then checked, with the following results:

- Left Magneto (21°BTDC)
- Right Magneto (20°BTDC)

The engine was not disassembled prior to the engine run. The crankshaft end-play was measured 0.010" and the run-out was 0.001".

The engine was prepared for operation by installing the appropriate thermocouples, pressure lines and test pads for monitoring purposes. The engine was then moved to a test cell, mounted for operation, and then fitted with a club type propeller for testing.

The engine experienced a normal start on the first attempt without hesitation or stumbling in observed RPM. The engine RPM was advanced in steps for warm-up in preparation for full power operation. The engine throttle was advanced to 1200 RPM and held for five (5) minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was advanced to 1600 RPM and held for five (5) minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was advanced to 2450 RPM and held for five (5) minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was advanced to the fully open position and held for five (5) minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was rapidly advanced from idle to full throttle five times where it performed normally without any hesitation, stumbling or interruption in power.

Throughout the test phase, the engine accelerated normally without any hesitation, stumbling or interruption in power and demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower.

After the test run with the engine still hot, a cylinder leakage test was performed in accordance with the latest revision of CMI Service Bulletin SB03-3 with the following results (master orifice reading – 43 PSI):

- Cylinder No. 1 - 17/80 PSI (rings)
- Cylinder No. 3 - 56/80 PSI (rings)
- Cylinder No. 5 - 60/80 PSI (rings)
- Cylinder No. 2 - 72/80 PSI (rings)
- Cylinder No. 4 - 36/80 PSI (rings)
- Cylinder No. 6 - 60/80 PSI (rings)

(*) – Leakage Source

Airplane Fuel System


Airplane fuel systems are designed to provide an uninterrupted flow of clean fuel from the fuel tanks to the engine. The fuel must be available to the engine under all conditions of engine power, altitude, attitude, and during all approved flight maneuvers. Two common classifications apply to fuel systems: gravity-feed and fuel-pump systems.

Low- and mid-wing single reciprocating engine airplanes cannot utilize gravity-feed fuel systems because the fuel tanks are not located above the engine. Instead, one or more pumps are used to move the fuel from the tanks to the engine.

In a low wing airplane, with a fuel injection system such as the Continental system, fuel pressurized by an engine-driven pump is metered as a function of engine rpm. It is first delivered from the fuel tanks (one for each wing), To a three-way selector valve (LEFT, RIGHT, or OFF). The selector valve also acts simultaneously as a diverter of air that has been separated out of the fuel in the engine-driven fuel pump and returned to the valve. It routes the air to the vent space above the fuel in the selected tank.

An electric auxiliary fuel pump draws fuel through the selector valve. It forces the fuel through the strainer, making it available for the engine-driven fuel pump. The electric auxiliary pump also supplies fuel pressure while starting, is used to prevent vapor lock, and is also used as a backup should the engine-driven pump fail and does not need to be operating to allow the engine-driven fuel pump access to the fuel.

The engine driven pump supplies a higher-than needed volume of fuel under pressure to the fuel control. Excess fuel is returned to the pump, which pumps it through the selector valve into the appropriate tank. Fuel vapor is also returned to tanks by the pump. The fuel control unit meters the fuel according to engine rpm and mixture control inputs from the cockpit and then supplies it to the fuel manifold and injectors, which spray fuel without any air mixed in directly into the cylinders, to provide a measured, continuous spray and smooth engine operation.

Auxiliary Fuel Pump


The auxiliary fuel pump was controlled by an ON-OFF toggle switch on the control console. It provided pressure for starting and emergency operation. Immediately after starting, the auxiliary fuel pump could be used to purge the system of vapor caused by extremely high ambient temperature or start with the engine hot. The auxiliary fuel pump provided for near maximum engine performance should the engine driven pump fail.

On May 4, 2016, the auxiliary fuel pump was tested.

It was noted that the fuel pump was intact and had not been disassembled from the time of manufacture.

During the testing, it took 5-7 seconds for the pump to self-prime and to start pumping.

Fuel pump requirements were a minimum of 42 gph at 16 psi, with a maximum amperage draw of 3 amps at 28 volts dc.

The pump during testing produced 53 gph at 16 psi, and amperage draw was 2.1 amps at 28 volts dc. indicating that the pump was operating within specifications.

During the testing however, it was discovered that the discharge fitting was leaking. Disassembly of the discharge fitting revealed that it appeared that it had had been installed to the proper torque, but it was observed that there were deep scratches on the O-Ring boss on the pump side of the fitting, and a piece of metal was found imbedded in the O-Ring.

The fittings were then removed, and the pump was then retested with another set of fittings. No leaks were found with the pump and /or the replacement fittings. 

Additional Information


According to the auxiliary pump manufacturer, fittings and O-rings can be a source of leakage. Care should be taken to ensure that fittings are inspected for cracks, scratches and cross threaded threads. New O-Rings should be installed at the time of fuel pump replacement and if the O-Rings have been on the fittings more than 10 years.
















Photo 13 – Image of Auxiliary Fuel Pump – Courtesy of CJ Aviation


Photo 14 – Pump Operating at 16 PSI and 53 GPH – Courtesy of CJ Aviation

Photo 15 – Pump Operating at 28 VDC at 2.1 Amps – Courtesy of CJ Aviation 

Photo 16 – Deep Scratches on O-Ring Boss on Pump Side of Discharge Fitting – Courtesy of CJ Aviation 

Photo 17 – Embedded Metal in O-Ring – Courtesy of CJ Aviation

7 comments:

  1. 1. If the fuel boost pump performed within spec with a leak, why was fuel starvation the determined cause? I assume the test gauges were downstream of the leaking fitting? Anyone know?
    2. Interesting that the phrase "b*lls to the wall" was redacted. According to the Internet (so it must be true!) the phrase originated in the 1960s as an aviation term to describe pushing the throttle, mixture, props handles (which had balls on the ends) forward to the firewall. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is correct but it dates earlier than that to WWII when test pilots for new aircraft during the war pushed the aircraft to max performance - before being approved/contract won for front line mass production and deployment.

      There was a show on The Military Channel years ago talking about it with interviewed surviving pilots of the time. I'm sure some surviving WWII pilots who are still with us (physically as well as mentally) can back that up.

      I don't remember the name of the show or even the exact year, but I do remember it was before the Military Channel became AHC (American Heroes Channel) in 2014. At least in US cable and satellite markets anyway. It stuck with me ever since and was mad as hell when the Military Channel went away for a while before being reborn as AHC.

      Delete
  2. Maybe the test report was reported out of sequence, the pump eventually tested at 53gpm after the leak was rectified? If not the case, then they have more work to do, for sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Play the video from the docket and you can see the minor drip going on while at 16 psi and indicating 53 GPH. That drip leakage had no effect on fuel delivery.

      Delete
    2. We all missed the fact that he did not have the auxiliary fuel pump on during takeoff and did not turn it on when the power loss occurred. It was fuel starvation due to air leakage on the suction side of the engine-driven pump - read on:

      Since the engine-driven fuel pump draws fuel through the in-line auxiliary pump and the auxiliary pump was not turned on, air was being drawn in during takeoff at the location where the drip was seen when the auxiliary pump was running in the standalone auxiliary pump test.

      It doesn't take much air drawn into a suction line to break vacuum and severely reduce engine pump fuel delivery. The test group did well to find the drip leakage and verify the compromised seal on the auxiliary pump fitting. No doubt they were testing the aux pump in May because the November engine test was not conclusive.

      If the pilot turned on the auxiliary pump as soon as power fell off, he would have overcome the fuel starvation problem.

      Delete
  3. The #1 and #4 cylinders had exceptionally low readings, but no mention of any borescope done or explanation. Broken rings? Scored pistons? Piston plug damaged and pin scored wall?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Whatever the cause, praise to the pilot for a nice piece of airmanship in setting that bird down. He said the elapsed time from problem onset to conclusion was 15 seconds. Good Job!

    ReplyDelete