Incident Details
An airplane lost engine power during a nighttime cruise flight. The pilot attempted to restore power but was unsuccessful. The forced landing resulted in the airplane striking a berm.
Initial Investigation Findings
Examination after the first incident revealed the right main fuel tank was empty. The electric fuel boost pump operated normally, and no mechanical defect was identified. The engine was subsequently disassembled, inspected, reassembled, and test run for 2 hours and 15 minutes without any mechanical malfunction being observed. The engine was then reinstalled on the airplane, and the airplane was returned to service.
Second Incident and Further Examination
On February 8, 2005, during a subsequent flight, the engine again lost power. Following this second mishap, the engine-driven fuel pump was examined on a test bench. The examination found excessive fuel leakage from the shaft seal at the drive end of the pump. Disassembly of the unit revealed that the rotor seal at the pump's drive end was worn beyond the manufacturer's specifications. Additionally, wear and damage were observed on the rotor interface with the drive coupling.