What happened
While performing an instrument approach, the aircraft experienced a loss of power in its right engine. In response, the pilot attempted to manage the situation by switching the right fuel selector to the left main tank and initiating emergency protocols. Although the crew briefly gained visual contact with the airport after breaking through an overcast layer, the left engine subsequently lost power as well.
Observing a drop in fuel pressure, the captain decided to perform an emergency landing on a patch of tundra located adjacent to a road. The impact during this forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. Post-accident inspections revealed that no fuel remained within the fuel system. Additionally, the pilot observed that the left fuel cap had become detached following the event, though no visible fuel stains were noted on the wing.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified several contributing factors related to the loss of engine power. The primary cause was determined to be fuel exhaustion resulting from a non-mechanical loss of power. Specifically, investigators found that fuel had been siphoned from the system. This was linked to the separation of the left fuel cap during flight. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted deficiencies in both preflight planning and in-flight decision-making by the pilot in command.