Pilot Debrief

TEXTRON AVIATION INC G36 near Ridgeland, SC — 2022-07-30

Final reportERA22LA346
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Date
2022-07-30
Location
Ridgeland, SC, USA
Aircraft
TEXTRON AVIATION INC G36
Registration
N887MJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he departed in his single-engine airplane on a cross-country flight with 62 gallons of fuel when he sustained a loss of engine power about 2 hours and 20 minutes into the flight. The pilot made a forced landing and the airplane impacted trees, which resulted in damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the tail section. Examination of the airplane revealed about 8 gallons of fuel in the left-wing tank. The right-wing tank was breached and no fuel was recovered. The fuel selector valve was set to the right tank and some fuel was found in the valve. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or deficiencies with the airplane or engine were identified that would have contributed to a loss of engine power. As such, it could not be determined why the engine to lose power. The airplane was equipped with an integrated avionics system that recorded the airplane’s flight and engine data. Data downloaded from the unit confirmed the loss of engine power described by the pilot. The data indicated the airplane consumed a total of 14 gallons of fuel for the 2 hour and 26-minute flight, with a fuel consumption rate of 5.3 gph. However, the actual average fuel consumption rate for the engine was about 15 gph, so the indicated consumption rate portrayed by the data for the accident flight was likely incorrect. This erroneous indication may have been due to the pilot not entering the quantity of “fuel remaining” into the system before engine start and opting to use the calibrated fuel quantity gauges.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have topped off fuel before departure to prevent fuel mismanagement.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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