What happened
An airline transport pilot (ATP) was undergoing a check-out flight in a Piper PA-34 with a certified flight instructor (CFI). Prior to takeoff, the ATP verified the fuel quantities and questioned the CFI regarding the level in the left tank. The CFI acknowledged that the left fuel tank was not full. The ATP noted that the fuel gauges indicated approximately 30 gallons in the left tank and 25 gallons in the right tank.
During the flight, the CFI decided to shut down the left engine by placing the left fuel selector switch to the OFF position and moving the right fuel selector switch to the cross-feed position. As the flight continued on a VOR approach, the right engine lost power. Both fuel selectors were placed to the ON position, but neither engine restarted.
The aircraft subsequently landed approximately one-half mile short of the runway. Upon impact, the aircraft hit a fence and sustained damage. An examination of the wreckage revealed that there was about 1.5 gallons of fuel remaining in the left tank and approximately 42 gallons in the right tank.
The investigation
Post-accident analysis confirmed significant discrepancies between the fuel quantities indicated by the gauges and the actual fuel amounts found in the tanks. The fuel exhaustion was determined to be the primary mechanical factor leading to the loss of power. The presence of substantial fuel in the right tank, which was not accessible due to the cross-feed configuration during a single-engine operation, highlighted a critical procedural error.
Findings
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel reported that the pilot lacked knowledge of the emergency procedures contained in the Pilot Operating Handbook. The failure to understand how fuel selector positions affect engine availability during single-engine operations contributed directly to the incident. The crew's inability to restart the engines after losing power resulted in the short-field landing and subsequent damage.
Safety message
Pilots must thoroughly review and understand emergency procedures, particularly those related to fuel management and engine failure, before conducting check-out flights or any flight involving single-engine operations. Proper knowledge of fuel selector positions and cross-feed systems is essential to prevent fuel exhaustion during critical phases of flight.