What happened
A commercial cargo flight, operated by a pilot with 1,608 flight hours, experienced a significant loss of engine power during the approach phase of flight. Before the 162 nautical mile journey, the pilot had verified that all five fuel tanks were at capacity. During the flight, which lasted roughly one hour, the pilot transitioned from auxiliary tanks to the right locker tank approximately 15 minutes after takeoff. Following instructions from air traffic control to begin a descent, the pilot switched the fuel source to the main tanks.
During the approach to runway 12R, the right engine began to sputter. While the pilot was executing the engine failure checklist, the left engine also began to sputter. In an attempt to restore power, the pilot set the auxiliary fuel pumps to high and transitioned from the main tanks back to the auxiliary tanks. The aircraft subsequently landed short of the intended runway.
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft revealed that both auxiliary fuel tanks were empty. While the right main tank contained roughly 3 inches of fuel, the left main tank was found to be empty, though it had sustained damage during the landing. Notably, the right wing locker tank remained full, but its transfer switch was set to the off position. The investigation found that the fuel lines for both engines were essentially devoid of fuel, with only a negligible amount found in the left main fuel line.
Findings
- The auxiliary fuel tanks were found to be completely dry at the time of inspection.
- The right wing locker fuel tank was full, but the transfer switch was in the off position, preventing fuel delivery.
- The right main fuel line and the line to the fuel manifold valve contained no fuel.
- The left main fuel line contained only a few teaspoons of fuel, and the line to the left fuel manifold valve was empty.