Incident Overview
An airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a flight with passengers and a cameraman associated with a film production. The purpose was to film a fort located on an island. Prior to the flight, the cargo door had been removed to facilitate filming. The cameraman tied himself to his seat with a rope before takeoff.
Flight and Engine Failure
During the filming, the pilot stated that he switched fuel tanks and noted that the left tank was full and the right tank about three-quarters full. As the airplane approached the fort, the engine sputtered and then regained full power. Approximately one to two minutes later, the pilot indicated that the engine lost all power. After unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine, the pilot ditched the airplane.
Evacuation and Fatalities
Following the ditching, the pilot and all passengers were able to exit the airplane except for the cameraman, who remained tied to his seat. Attempts to free the cameraman before the airplane sank were unsuccessful, and he drowned. The source explicitly states that the cameraman drowned.
Postaccident Findings
A passenger noted that the right fuel tank fuel gauge was somewhere around the quarter mark and was bouncing as the airplane flew. The airplane was recovered from ocean waters 17 days after the accident. Postaccident inspection disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.