Flight Details
A military pilot, while on leave, rented an aircraft for a round-trip flight from Honolulu, Hawaii, to the island of Maui. He received a 1.2-hour checkout flight in the same aircraft the day prior. Before departure, the pilot filled the fuel tanks to capacity, providing 22.5 gallons of usable fuel.
Engine Failure
The flight from Honolulu to Maui was uneventful. However, during the return leg, at an altitude of 2,000 feet and approximately 10 nautical miles east of his destination, the pilot lost total engine power. He described the event: "The engine smoothly 'rolled back' in RPM to something less than cruise power as if power was simply reduced. It ran smoothly with no inconsistency for approximately one minute, and then completely stopped."
Ditching and Rescue
The pilot executed a successful ditching in the Pacific Ocean. Both occupants exited the aircraft with an inflatable raft and were subsequently rescued. The aircraft sank in deep water and was not recovered.
Flight Times and Fuel Consumption
Air traffic control tower records indicate the flight to Maui took 1 hour and 34 minutes. The return flight from takeoff to ditching lasted 45 minutes. The aircraft's expected fuel consumption rate was between 6 and 7 gallons per hour.