What happened
While flying at 9,500 feet near Grand Turk, the pilot of a Cessna noticed the fuel gauges fluctuating across a 60-gallon range. The pilot continued the flight toward Isla Grande Airport; however, approximately 40 nautical miles from the destination, the right engine sputtered. Upon checking the fuel pressure and noting zero quantity on the fuel indicator, the pilot switched to the left tank, but soon observed low pressure on the left engine as well.
After climbing to 11,500 feet, roughly 35 miles from Isla Grande Airport, the left engine stopped operating. The right engine failed a short time later. The pilot feathered both propellers, declared an emergency, and diverted to Arecibo Airport. After switching the fuel selector back to the right tank, the pilot successfully restarted the right engine and flew toward the shore, though the right engine subsequently failed again.
Approximately two nautical miles north of Arecibo Airport, while descending through 6,000 feet, the pilot managed to restart the left engine. The pilot then extended the landing gear, encountered a right crosswind, and executed a landing on runway 08 with full flaps on a right downwind.
Following the landing, the passengers were off-loaded. An FAA inspector debriefed the pilot and issued a ferry permit. The pilot subsequently refueled the aircraft and ferried it to Borinquen Airport.