DEN83LA143

Factual narrative

THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT DURING DESCENT FOR APPROACH TO LAND. THE PILOT STATED THAT VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE BEGINNING OF DESCENT TO LAND THE ENGINE QUIT AT 5000 FT WHILE HE WAS ACCOMPLISHING THE CHECKLIST. THE PLT SAID LATER THAT HE THOUGHT HE COULD REACH THE RWY BUT THE WINDMILLING PROPELLER CAUSED A HIGH SINK RATE. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY SWITCHING TANKS AT LEAST ONCE ('BUT MAYBE TWICE'.) USING BOOST PUMP WITH EACH TANK AND CHANGING MIXTURE SETTING WITH NO SUCCESS. HE THEN HAD TO LAND OFF THE ARPT AND NOSED OVER.AN ONSITE EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT IN THE LEFT TANK. THERE WAS NO SPILLAGE OR RUPTURES IN EITHER TANK. THE EMERGENCY AIRSTART PROCEDURE FROM THE OPERATING HANDBOOK: 1. 75 KIAS 2. FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND QUANTITY CHECK 3. MIXTURE-RICH 4.AUX FUEL PUMP ON 3-5 SEC WITH THROTTLE HALF OPEN, THEN OFF 5. IGNITION SWITCH BOTH (OR START IF PROP STOPS) 6. THROTTLE-ADVANCE SLOWLY. PLT HAD NOT FLOWN THIS MODEL ACFT IN 90 DAYS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12