Accident Overview
The airplane collided with shipping containers while attempting to make a precautionary landing at a pier. The pilot had perceived a low fuel state and was trying to land. Witnesses reported that the pilot, after the crash, stated he was trying to land due to low fuel. First responders observed large amounts of fuel leaking from the damaged wing tanks and from the lower forward fuselage, where header tanks and fuel lines are located. Fuel was still leaking from the airplane when Safety Board investigators arrived two hours after the accident.
Pilot and Witness Statements
The pilot passed away several months after the accident and was unable to provide a statement. A witness who saw the crash and responded to render aid asked the pilot what had happened; the pilot replied that he was trying to land because of a low fuel state.
Mechanical and Electrical Findings
Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. However, investigators found that the alternator circuit breaker was tripped. An alternator found in the wreckage of the cabin had a shorted internal diode. The alternator attached to the engine was missing the grounding post and the associated ground wire. The ground strap between the engine and the airframe had been disconnected, with the disconnected end weathered and worn.
Fuel System Considerations
The airplane manufacturer's technical representative indicated that the fuel level for this airplane is sensed from a variable resistance float assembly that can indicate lower fuel levels than actual as the electrical system voltage drops. Due to the poor condition of the alternator, it is highly likely that the battery was discharging and the voltage level dropping. If that were the case, the variable resistance float assembly for the fuel gauge level would have started to show a lower-than-expected fuel level indication inside the cockpit, leading the pilot to believe that the airplane was experiencing a low fuel state.
Maintenance Records
Only partial maintenance records were recovered. The recent maintenance that may have been performed on the electrical system could not be determined.