ERA18LA229 · Beech A36 UNDESIGNAT

The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and engine run-up with no discrepancies. During the takeoff, about 125 ft above ground level with the landing gear extended, the pilot reported that the engine suddenly lost total power. The pilot did not have adequate time to troubleshoot the loss of power before performing a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a tree. Although the pilot recalled departing with the fuel selector on the left tank position and he did not report changing it during the flight, it was found in the right tank position after the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine fuel system components revealed minimal or no fuel in the fuel pumps and throttle body. This finding was supported by decreased fuel flow recorded by the engine monitor and was consistent with fuel starvation; however, the reason for the decreased fuel flow could not be determined. Examination of the fuel vent system for the left and right fuel tanks revealed that both were free of obstructions from one of the vents into each respective tank, and the fuel supply system from each wing fuel tank to the engine were also clear for either fuel selector position. Water found in the right fuel tank was consistent with the fire department using water to extinguish fires started during the recovery process. A test run of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The mixture lever at the metering valve was impact damaged and loose and exhibited evidence of smearing damage to a section of the brass lever; however, the smearing was not along the entire periphery. Therefore, there was no evidence that the mixture control lever was rotating in relation to the stem of the mixture control shaft.

Verbatim NTSB analysis and probable cause from the NTSB dataset