Accident Overview
An aircraft being used to support a program documenting right whales off the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia was ditched in the ocean after experiencing engine failure. The pilot was flying the donated aircraft on a mission to document whale activities when the incident occurred.
Previous Flight Issues
The pilot had accompanied the aircraft's owner on a previous flight during which problems developed while switching to or from the auxiliary fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks. No documented repair or troubleshooting was conducted before the accident flight.
Accident Flight Details
On the day of the accident, the pilot took off with fuel in the auxiliary tanks. While approximately 20 miles offshore, the pilot switched to the auxiliary tanks and flew several legs of the search pattern. Subsequently, the engine quit. The pilot began heading toward the shore and then switched the front engine to the main fuel tank. That engine also quit.
Ditching and Loss
The aircraft was ditched in the ocean. It sank approximately two minutes after impact and was not recovered.