N9404Q

On October 1, 2019, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Beech 55, N9404Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Grove City Airport (29D), Grove City, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

In a written report of the accident, the pilot stated that he departed from 29D around 1000, and that the airplane’s fuel state at takeoff was “1/4 tank.” He then flew to Greenville Municipal Airport (4G1), Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he visited with the airport manager before returning to 29D. The pilot described that while on final approach to land, he felt the airplane was low and he “gave the airplane some power.” The left engine then “sputtered and surged.” The pilot further described that, “it did not quit but it was not making power.” The airplane was near the end of the runway and at an altitude of about 200 ft above the ground. The pilot stated that he then used the right rudder to get the airplane under control and that it was 10° left of course. Because the airplane was heading towards the occupied airport ramp, he decreased power to the right engine, decreased the pitch, and the airplane impacted the ground and slid to a stop.

In a subsequent interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector the pilot stated that he departed 29D with an unknown quantity of fuel and flew to 4G1, which was a 10-minute flight. The pilot described that he overflew the airport to see if a mechanic friend was there; because his friend was not there, the pilot began the return trip to 29D. At that point, the pilot noted that the airplane had about one-eighth tank of fuel in both fuel tanks.

The FAA inspector also spoke with airport management personnel at 29D, who reported that the pilot's credit card was charged twice at the airport's self-service fuel pump the day after the accident. The first charge, at 1052, was for 5.5 gallons; the second charge, at 1008, was for 5.5 gallons.

The accident was not reported to the FAA or the NTSB until December 10, 2019. Subsequent examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that the fuselage had been substantially damaged. The fuel selectors were positioned to the left and right main tanks. The left wing's main fuel tank had 4.6 gallons of fuel (3.5 gallons of which was usable), and the auxiliary tank contained 2 gallons of fuel.

The left engine's main fuel feed line was disconnected from the firewall, and 1 ounce of fuel was collected. The fuel was placed in a glass container and was observed to be absent of debris and water. The fuel line to the flow divider was removed, and “one drop” of fuel was observed. The digital left fuel gauge indicated a total of 7 gallons of fuel. Examination of the left engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.