Accident Overview
A pilot, sole occupant, was fatally injured when both engines ceased operation during a flight in a recently acquired aircraft. The machine had a fuel system distinct from other fleet examples, featuring four selector detents—Off, Outboard, Inboard, and Crossfeed—instead of the standard three (On, Off, Crossfeed). The pilot had no previous experience with this specific aircraft.
Sequence of Events
After approximately 110 minutes of flight, the pilot reported that both engines had stopped and that he could not draw fuel from the outboard tanks. Examination of the wreckage revealed no fuel in the inboard tanks, while a quantity remained in the outboard tanks.
Investigation Findings
Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure in the engines or fuel system that could have caused the power loss. The engines had stopped when the inboard fuel supply was exhausted. Flight documentation recovered from the wreckage indicated that the pilot had changed the fuel selector positions from Inboard about 30 minutes before reporting the engine stoppage. However, the complete consumption of inboard fuel suggested that the selectors were not correctly engaged in the outboard detents. Subsequent testing showed that if a selector was positioned between the Inboard and Outboard detents, the engine would continue to draw fuel from the inboard tank.
Fuel System Briefing
The day before the accident flight, a company check pilot briefed the pilot on the fuel system of the aircraft (registration VH-FDR) using the Pilots Operating Manual. Because the aircraft was not available at that time, the pilot could not examine the fuel management panel in daylight. It is unknown whether the pilot familiarized himself with the panel before departure.
Conclusion
The investigation was unable to determine why the pilot could not access fuel from the outboard tanks. Standard procedure calls for selecting the inboard tanks for takeoff.