What happened
During an instrument flight rules cross-country mission, the pilot of a multi-engine, retractable landing gear airplane was cruising at approximately 5,000 feet MSL when the left engine began surging. In response to these fluctuations, the pilot executed an emergency shutdown of the left engine. Shortly after this procedure, the right engine also lost power.
While attempting an emergency descent, the aircraft collided with treetops before making a hard landing in a field. At the time of impact, the landing gear remained in the retracted position. The accident resulted in significant structural damage to the lower fuselage, the engine mounts, and both wings.
Findings
Investigation into the incident revealed that the pilot had previously requested 200 gallons of fuel from the fixed base operator at his departure airport, but the request was not fulfilled. Crucially, the pilot failed to verify the actual fuel levels during the preflight inspection. Although the pilot stated there were no mechanical failures that would have prevented standard operation, the failure to visually confirm fuel quantity was a significant factor in the loss of power.
- Aircraft type: multi-engine, retractable landing gear airplane
- Flight phase: Instrument flight rules cross-country
- Altitude: 5,000 feet MSL
- Damage: Substantial damage to wings, engine mounts, and fuselage