Pilot Debrief

BEECH G33 near Washington, PA — 2011-05-12

Final reportERA11FA295
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Date
2011-05-12
Location
Washington, PA, USA
Airport
AFJ
Aircraft
BEECH G33
Registration
N1554W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management and preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to comply with the manufacturer's published takeoff and emergency procedures.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to comply with the manufacturer's published takeoff and emergency procedures.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed without conducting a preflight inspection and with an unknown quantity of fuel. Shortly after takeoff, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but did not follow the published emergency procedure, and the engine did not restart. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. Postaccident examination of the airplane at the scene by HAZMAT responders revealed no external odor of fuel and no evidence of fuel spillage. The left fuel tank contained only trace amounts of fuel; the fuel selector was on the left tank position. Integrity and continuity of the fuel system was confirmed from both fuel tanks, through the fuel selector, to the engine. The engine was test run and it operated satisfactorily. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, the takeoff procedures are not to takeoff with less than 13 gallons of fuel indicated in either tank, and the emergency procedures are to switch the selector to the fuller tank. The examination did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have ensured fuel selector was on the fuller tank before takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 24 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents24

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