Event MIA98LA117

Factual narrative

On April 2, 1998, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Beech F33A, D-ECTB (German), registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight, impacted with trees during a forced landing near Fort Pierce, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight was originating from the Fort Pierce Airport at the time. The flight had departed runway 14, and had reached an altitude of about 200 feet, when the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot elected to make a forced landing straight ahead into trees. After impact, the pilot closed off the fuel valve. Examination of the wreckage after the accident revealed that the fuel tanks had fuel. The pilot said the fuel selector was on the left tank when the loss of power occurred. Observation of the engine at the crash site did not reveal any obvious discrepancies. The engine was removed from the airframe and shipped to Continental Motor's facilities, Mobile, Alabama, and examined at the NTSB's request, and under the supervision of the FAA, on June 24, 1998. The engine examination revealed that the fuel control system exhibited fluid leakage at the fuel pump and throttle shaft. Detailed examination of the fuel pump showed that the pump leaked fluid at the rear high speed adjusting needle at the seal to the pump body. There was no evidence of impact damage observed on the fuel pump. In addition, the throttle/metering unit leaked fluid at the throttle shaft into the metering unit. The leak at the throttle shaft was severe enough that no flow test was possible. The throttle arm displayed impact damage. The throttle shaft was removed from the unit, and the "O" ring seal was found flat from wear. The ring was replaced and the leakage stopped. The unit was then flow tested to manufacturer's standards. No other discrepancies were found during the engine examination (see TCM Analytical report Page 3). At the airplane owner's request, the engine was shipped to Fort Pierce, Florida, on July 23, 1998, directly from TCM, Mobile, Alabama. The flight had departed runway 14, and had reached an altitude of about 200 feet, when the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot elected to make a forced landing straight ahead into trees. After impact, the pilot closed off the fuel valve. Examination of the wreckage after the accident revealed that the fuel tanks had fuel. The pilot said the fuel selector was on the left tank when the loss of power occurred. Observation of the engine at the crash site did not reveal any obvious discrepancies. The engine was removed from the airframe and examined at the NTSB's request, and under the supervision of the FAA, on June 24, 1998. The engine examination revealed that the fuel control system exhibited fluid leakage at the fuel pump and throttle shaft. Detailed examination of the fuel pump showed that the pump leaked fluid at the rear high speed adjusting needle at the seal to the pump body. There was no evidence of impact damage observed on the fuel pump. In addition, the throttle/metering unit leaked fluid at the throttle shaft into the metering unit. The leak at the throttle shaft was severe enough that no flow test was possible. The throttle arm displayed impact damage. The throttle shaft was removed from the unit, and the 'O' ring seal was found flat from wear. The 'O' ring was replaced and the leakage stopped. The unit was then flow tested to manufacturer's standards. No other discrepancies were found during the engine examination Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12