Accident Overview
The pilot of an aircraft departing from Lansing, Michigan, reported engine problems shortly after takeoff. The aircraft subsequently experienced a loss of power to both engines, leading to a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. No preexisting anomalies were found with the aircraft or its systems.
Fueling Investigation
Fuel receipts indicated that the aircraft had been serviced with 25 gallons of jet fuel in each wing tank. An FAA inspector interviewed the person who fueled the aircraft, who stated that he used a JET-A fuel truck. The inspector also spoke with the safety director of the company that provided the fueling service. The safety director reported that the fuel truck used to service the accident aircraft had a small nozzle installed on one of its hoses, rather than the wide nozzle standard on jet fueling trucks. He explained that the small nozzle was used for fueling tugs at the airport and noted that all such nozzles were immediately removed from jet refueling trucks to prevent a recurrence.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause includes a loss of engine power due to improper fuel. Also causal was the improper aircraft service by the fixed base operator personnel and the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing encountered by the pilot. Factors were the improper grade of fuel and the lack of suitable terrain for the landing.