Incident Overview
A pilot of a Beech Baron conducted a pre-flight inspection, drained the fuel tank sumps, and taxied to the ramp for fueling. A refueler arrived in a 10,000-gallon truck marked Jet-A and added 50 gallons to each wing tank under the pilot's observation. The pilot later stated that he was not concerned because he knew a jet-fuel truck had been converted to avgas for a recent airshow, the nozzle fit the wing opening, and he had restrictors that would normally prevent a jet-fuel nozzle from entering the tank. He also believed the refueler had serviced the aircraft before.
Sequence of Events
After fueling, the pilot taxied for takeoff. He did not perform a runup, as he had already warmed up the engines and completed a runup prior to the refueling. Following takeoff, the pilot lost power in both engines and subsequently landed on the remaining runway.
Contributing Factors
The refueler incorrectly assumed the Beech Baron was turbine-powered. According to the FAA, the fuel nozzle used was an improper type for overwing refueling. The 5,000-gallon jet-fuel truck that had been converted to avgas was properly marked and contained avgas; however, the truck used at the time of the incident was a different vehicle marked Jet-A and contained Jet-A.
Investigation Findings
The FAA report indicated that the fuel nozzle was an improper nozzle installed for overwing refueling. The pilot's assumption that the fueling truck was the one converted to avgas was incorrect, leading to the misfueling event.
Conclusion
The incident highlights a misfueling occurrence where a Beech Baron was serviced with Jet-A instead of avgas, resulting in engine power loss shortly after takeoff.