Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 337G near Baker, CA — 2009-04-02

Final reportWPR09LA177
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Date
2009-04-02
Location
Baker, CA, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 337G
Registration
N222G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was in cruise flight when both engines began to sputter and lose power. He attempted a restart of each engine but was unsuccessful. He estimated that the wind was out of the southeast at 40 knots and he wanted to turn into the wind for the landing, but could only get to a gravel road, which had a crosswind. He lowered the landing gear at the last instant in an attempt to cushion the landing, and kept the left wing low into the wind. The left wing contacted a gravel berm along the left side of the road, and the airplane spun around on the road. The landing gear fractured and separated and the airplane came to rest with the right wing on the ground. Recovery personnel drained 27 gallons of fuel from the left tank and 1.5 gallons from the right tank; the fuel selector valves were positioned for normal cruise flight. During a followup examination of the airplane no anomalies were noted. Fuel supplies were plumbed into the aircraft fuel system at both the left and right wing fuel tanks and both engines were started and run at various power settings. The investigation could not determine the reason for the power loss.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before departure to prevent engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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