Accident Overview
On July 11, 2016, at approximately 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, registration N100CP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Bartow, Florida. The commercial pilot aboard sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local aerial photography flight, which had departed Bartow Municipal Airport (BOW) at 0845. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Aircraft and Pilot Details
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. A second-class medical certificate had been issued on July 1, 2016. The pilot reported 5,107 total flight hours, with 219 hours in the accident airplane make and model. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on February 1, 2016, at 6,637.6 total aircraft hours.
Flight History
According to the pilot, the preflight inspection revealed no anomalies; the fuel tanks were full, and no water or contaminants were visible in the fuel samples. The engine run-up, takeoff, and climb to 13,500 feet mean sea level were normal. The cruise power setting was 27 inches of manifold pressure at 2,200 rpm. After about two hours, the pilot descended for landing at BOW. While entering the traffic pattern, after completing the left turn onto the base leg, the right engine lost power. The pilot confirmed available fuel and turned toward the runway threshold, but soon recognized that the left engine was also no longer producing power. Concluding that the airplane would not reach the airport, the pilot selected a forced landing area and completed the landing in swampy terrain.
Examination Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the airplane came to rest upright in knee-deep water about one mile northwest of the airport. Substantial damage was observed to the wings, empennage, and tail section. Neither propeller appeared to be feathered; the right engine propeller blades were bent aft, while the left engine propeller blades were straight. Both fuel selector valve handles were found in the Auxiliary position. Examination of the auxiliary fuel tanks revealed an odor of fuel, but each tank appeared empty. Due to swampy conditions, the airplane could not be examined on site and was moved to a secure storage facility. During recovery, the right-side fuel tanks were found damaged and voided by impact. The main tip tank had separated from the left wing, and several gallons of fuel were drained from the left auxiliary and left wing-locker tanks. A Shadin Fuel Flow Indicator was recovered for examination. Detailed examination of the airframe and engines revealed control continuity and no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
Fuel System and Manual Guidance
The Shadin Fuel Flow Indicator, a digital fuel management system, displayed 62.3 gallons used and 115 gallons remaining, consistent with the flight's duration and profile as reported by the pilot. According to the Cessna 310 Owner's Manual, the before-landing procedure requires fuel selectors to be set to Left Main and Right Main. The manual also warns that auxiliary fuel tanks are designed for cruising flight and are not equipped with pumps; operation near the ground (below 1,000 feet above ground level) using auxiliary fuel is not recommended.
Weather reported at BOW at 1315 included few clouds at 2,500 feet, variable winds at 4 knots, temperature 31°C, dewpoint 21°C, and altimeter setting 30.13 inches of mercury. Performance chart interpolation estimated a fuel consumption rate of 27 gallons per hour at the reported power settings.