What happened
During the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the pilot configured the aircraft for landing and continued onto the final approach of the traffic pattern at the destination airport. While the aircraft was between 300 to 500 feet above ground level, the right engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot determined that the aircraft could not sustain level flight and chose to perform a precautionary landing on a residential street.
During the maneuver, the left wing collided with a fence, causing the aircraft to erupt in flames. There were no fatalities reported in the accident.
The investigation
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage following the accident. During the recovery of the wreckage, approximately 1 gallon of fuel was found in the right fuel tank, which remained intact. The inspector noted no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally. However, it was observed that both fuel selector valves were positioned to the right fuel tank.
Prior to departure, the pilot had added 70 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel, bringing the total onboard fuel to 115 gallons, or 57.5 gallons per tank. According to the Pilot Operator's Handbook, normal operations require the left and right selectors to be positioned to their respective main tanks. When both selectors are set to the same tank, a single tank supplies both engines. Based on an estimated fuel burn rate of 38 gallons per hour and a flight duration of 1.5 hours, the total required fuel for both engines was approximately 57 gallons.
Findings
- Both fuel selector valves were positioned to the right fuel tank.
- The right engine experienced loss of power during the approach.