Incident Details
A pilot arrived to ferry an aircraft after being asked by one of the owners. Upon arrival, the pilot discovered that the right engine had been shut down during the previous flight. The right fuel tank was empty, and the left tank contained approximately 20 gallons of fuel. After calculating that the flight would require only 50 gallons, the pilot added 50 gallons to each tank.
During descent into Lake Elsinore, one engine quit, followed quickly by the second. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field.
Investigation Findings
FAA inspectors examined the aircraft and found the right fuel tank empty and the left tank containing about 50 gallons. No other mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified during the investigation.
Subsequently, one of the aircraft's owners—who was repossessing the aircraft from a partner—stated that after the accident, he was informed that due to a pump failure, the other owner had "somehow rigged the aircraft so that both engines would be supplied by the right fuel tank." Both the owner and the pilot were unaware of this modification.
Fuel Management Issues
The pilot had loaded 50 gallons into each tank based on a flight requirement of 50 gallons. However, the discovery of the empty right tank and the 50 gallons remaining in the left tank, combined with the reported rigging, indicates a fuel supply discrepancy that led to the loss of power in both engines.