Incident Details
During the approach for landing, while the aircraft was operating on auxiliary fuel tanks, the low fuel flow warning light illuminated. The pilot then switched the fuel selector to the main tanks. Shortly thereafter, both engines lost power while the aircraft was on final approach. The pilot did not attempt to regain power by switching back to the auxiliary tanks, believing that the warning light indicated a problem with the selected tank.
Fuel System and Pilot Actions
Prior to the incident, the pilot judged by reference to the aircraft fuel gauges that 156 gallons of fuel remained. In fact, only 120 gallons were present. The aircraft manual states that the low fuel flow warning lights indicate the condition of the main tanks only, regardless of which tank is selected. The pilot did not understand that this was true irrespective of tank selection.
Forced Landing and Damage
The aircraft executed a forced landing short of the runway in rough terrain. During the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the other landing gear separated from the aircraft.
Investigation Findings
Investigation revealed that the main tanks contained only residual fuel, while each auxiliary tank held approximately 6 gallons of fuel. The pilot's misinterpretation of the fuel quantity and the warning light system led to the loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.