What happened
During a night cross-country flight, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection using a cellular phone as a light source instead of a headlamp. Although the aircraft had been fully fueled prior to departure, the pilot did not manually verify the fuel level in the right main tank during the preflight process. During the flight, the pilot operated the engines with a slightly rich mixture and utilized the aircraft heater, which led to a higher-than-normal fuel consumption rate during the first half of the journey.
As the flight progressed, the pilot transferred fuel from the auxiliary and left side locker tanks into the main tanks. Following the final transfer, the pilot's calculations suggested sufficient fuel remained to reach the destination, including reserves, though the fuel gauges showed lower levels than anticipated. Upon receiving clearance for a visual approach at the destination airport, the right engine lost all power, followed shortly by the loss of power in the left engine. The aircraft was forced to land, during which the right wing struck a permanent elevated static display. The aircraft came to rest upright on the airport grounds, suffering substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries.
Findings
- The pilot failed to manually verify the fuel level in the right main tank during the preflight inspection.
- Higher fuel consumption occurred due to the use of the aircraft heater and a rich engine mixture.
- The pilot noted that fuel levels indicated by the gauges were lower than his calculated expectations prior to the engine failures.