Incident Overview
A pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the airplane to another airport for refueling. During preflight, the pilot observed that the airplane's two fuel gauges indicated "low," but the supplemental electronic fuel totalizer displayed a total of 55 gallons. The pilot noted that it was not feasible to visually check the fuel quantity because the fueling ports are located near the wingtips and the fuel quantity cannot be measured with any external measuring device. Based on the fuel totalizer reading and a planned flight time of 20 minutes, the pilot deemed the fuel quantity sufficient.
Engine Power Loss
Approximately 12 nautical miles from the destination airport, both engines began to "surge" and subsequently lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing, deviating to land in grass between a highway. During touchdown, the airplane contacted the ground hard, and the landing gear collapsed.
Aircraft Damage
The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage.
Pilot's Report
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. In the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated there was a "disparity" between the actual fuel quantity and the fuel quantity set in the electronic fuel totalizer. A few days before the accident, the pilot had set the total fuel totalizer quantity to full after refueling, but in hindsight, he did not believe the fuel tanks were actually full because the wings may not have been level during fueling.
Fuel Totalizer Manual Guidance
The operating manual for the fuel totalizer, in its "Preflight" chapter, states: "Digiflo-L is a fuel flow measuring system and NOT a quantity-sensing device. A visual inspection and positive determination of the usable fuel in the fuel tanks is a necessity. Therefore, it is imperative that the determined available usable fuel be manually entered into the system."
Safety Information
This incident highlights the importance of verifying fuel quantity through direct visual inspection rather than relying solely on electronic fuel totalizer indications. The disparity between the totalizer setting and actual fuel quantity, possibly due to unlevel wings during fueling, contributed to the fuel exhaustion.