Flight Details
The airplane was returning from a 3-hour aerial mapping mission and was aligned for a straight-in, 5-mile final approach to land. About 3 miles from the runway, before performing the before-landing check, both engines ceased producing power in sequence, one immediately after the other.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that by the time he completed remedial actions, the airplane had descended to approximately 200 feet above the ground and the engines could not be restarted. The auxiliary fuel tank gauges fluctuated between 2 and 5 gallons, while the main tanks indicated about 25 gallons per side. The pilot selected a forced landing site between two large trees and landed in heavily wooded terrain.
Examination
A detailed examination of the wreckage found no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies. According to the aircraft manufacturer's owner's manual, the auxiliary fuel tanks are designed for cruising flight and lack pumps; operation below 1000 feet using auxiliary fuel is not recommended. The first step of the before-landing check requires selecting the main fuel tanks on both the left and right fuel selectors. The pilot indicated that he should have selected the main tanks sooner and performed the before-landing check earlier in the approach.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause is a total loss of engine power during final approach due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's delayed configuration of the airplane for landing.