Accident Overview
On October 18, 2017, at about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402B, registered as N900CR, was substantially damaged during an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 non-scheduled passenger flight. The commercial pilot and one passenger, along with two individuals on the ground, sustained minor injuries.
Flight History
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control records, the airplane departed Tampa International Airport (TPA), Tampa, Florida, at 1526. At 1539, the pilot advised air traffic control that he was “fuel critical” and requested vectors to the nearest airport. The controller provided a heading toward Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida, approximately 7 miles away. The pilot reported having 20 minutes of fuel on board. At 1543, while 4 miles from the runway, the pilot received a vector toward runway 4. The pilot acknowledged the airport in sight, and the controller provided the SPG tower frequency. No further radio transmissions were received.
Landing and Damage
The airplane landed on a residential street approximately 2 miles from SPG and collided with two vehicles. Examination by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings, the horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and nose section. Both wingtips and wingtip fuel tanks were separated from the wings. The left wingtip fuel tank exhibited minor sooting and heat damage. Both auxiliary fuel tanks were damaged and breached.
Fuel System Examination
The left engine fuel selector was found in the left main fuel tank position; the right engine fuel selector was in the right main fuel tank position. Examination of the engines revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel was found in the line between the fuel flow transducer, the fuel manifold valve, and in the fuel manifold valve housing on both engines.
Operational Records
According to operator records, the accident occurred during the third leg of a four-leg trip. At the start of the trip, the airplane’s hour meter read 589.0 hours; at the accident scene, it read 592.7 hours. Two legs were scheduled with passengers; the other two were positioning flights. Fueling records showed that the airplane received 102.3 gallons the day before the accident. The total fuel on board at the start of the trip was not listed in company dispatch documents. The pilot did not refuel at either intermediate stop.
Performance Data
According to the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, the airplane was equipped with two main wingtip tanks (50 usable gallons each) and two auxiliary fuel tanks (31.5 usable gallons each). With full fuel, published endurance was between 4.8 to 5.4 hours at 73% and 65% power, respectively. Endurance for 100 gallons (main tanks only) was 3 to 3.3 hours. Fuel consumption estimates based on the flight itinerary, distances, and performance tables indicated that the airplane would have used about 100 gallons between the last fueling and the accident.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had 38 hours in the airplane make and model, all flown in the 30 days preceding the accident. He completed his Part 135 checkride the day before the accident. The accident trip was his first solo revenue flight.