On December 19, 1992, a Cessna 414A (registration N911AG) operated by Dr. Charles O. Garrison was involved in an aviation accident near Rexburg, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT DID NOT SELECT THE REMAINING FUEL SUPPLY. FACTORS INCLUDE A DETERIORATED FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Both engines lost power due to fuel starvation after the right main tanks were exhausted. The pilot had noted a fuel imbalance but did not use crossfeed to access remaining left main fuel. Investigation found a mispositioned fuel selector valve and deteriorated O-rings.
Incident Summary
During flight, the pilot observed a fuel imbalance, with a greater quantity of fuel remaining in the left main tanks compared to the right. Both engines subsequently lost power when the fuel supply from the right main tanks was depleted, necessitating a forced landing. The pilot did not utilize the crossfeed function to access the approximately fifty gallons of fuel still present in the left main tanks. Specifically, positioning the right fuel selector to crossfeed would have allowed the right engine to draw from the left tanks.
Investigation Findings
Post-event inspection revealed that the left fuel selector valve was not seated in its detent. As a result, both engines had been drawing fuel exclusively from the right main tanks during the flight. Furthermore, O-rings within the fuel valve assembly had deteriorated, causing the spool valve to feel as though it was correctly positioned in the detent when it was not.