N361TC

On December 6, 2018, at 1230 Pacific standard time, a Beech A36TC airplane, N361TC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Los Banos, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot departed about 1145 and reported that he planned to practice landings at the destination airport. He entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at the destination, and as he made the left base turn, the engine began to sputter. The pilot turned toward the runway and tried to maintain clearance from trees located on the outside of the airport perimeter fence; however, the propeller and landing gear impacted the fence. The airplane came to rest upright about 5 ft from the runway edge, resulting in substantial damage.

Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies. The fuel selector handle had been removed, but the rod that rotated the valve remained intact and attached to the unit. The fuel selector was disassembled, and the ring was found located between detents. Based on its position, it may have been positioned between the left- and right-wing tip tanks; however, the position of the fuel selector at the time of the loss of engine power could not be determined.

The pilot reported that there were 74 gallons of fuel onboard at the time of departure; however, neither the distribution of the fuel, nor the fuel onboard at the time of the accident, were determined.