Accident Sequence
A commercial pilot was returning to his company base after dropping passengers and freight at two intermediate stops. The route distance from the base to the accident site was about 243 nautical miles. He landed at the last intermediate stop with the fuel selector on the right main tank and departed with the selector on the left main fuel tank. Both left and right wing tip tanks were full. While descending toward the company base, the engine quit. The pilot selected the right wing tip tank, turned on the fuel boost pump, and attempted to restart the engine without success. He then selected the left wing tip tank, but the engine did not start. The pilot made an emergency landing in a small opening in the trees about 15 miles south of the company base airport. During the landing, the airplane collided with several small trees and touched down in soft, boggy terrain.
Investigation Findings
The director of operations responded to the accident scene and reported that the left main fuel tank was empty, while fuel was present in the right main tank and in each wing tip tank. For flight planning, the company uses a fuel burn of 20 gallons per hour and an airspeed of 125 knots. An FAA inspector inspected the airplane and confirmed the left main tank was empty. Fuel flowed from each fuel tank to the engine except from the left main tank. After replacing the propeller, the engine was started and ran normally.
Aircraft Documentation
The airplane owner's handbook notes that the fuel selector should be changed to another tank before fuel is exhausted from the tank in use. It also notes that it may take up to ten seconds, after switching fuel tanks, to restore power if fuel exhaustion has occurred.