Accident Overview
On July 10, 1993, at approximately 1015 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31, registration N36L, experienced a total loss of power from both engines due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft was ditched about 18 nautical miles south of Providenciales Airport, Turks and Caicos Islands. The airplane, registered to and operated by the Schaked Corporation, was on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed.
Flight History
The flight originated about 0900 from Cap Haitien, Haiti. The day before the accident, the fuel tanks were filled, and the airplane was flown for approximately 2 hours. After landing, the pilot requested an auxiliary power unit (APU) for the following morning to jump start the engines due to electrical system problems.
During the preflight, the pilot visually determined that the fuel tanks were half full. The APU was used to start the engines. About 20 minutes after departure, the electrical system failed. The flight continued, and approximately 44 minutes later, Grand Turk Approach Control was contacted using a hand-held radio. The pilot requested a clearance to land and advised the controller that the airplane was low on fuel. The controller informed the crew that the flight was about 60 miles east of the airport and that Providenciales Airport was about 31 miles north of their position.
Engine Failures and Ditching
The flight proceeded directly toward Providenciales. Shortly after, the pilot stated that the left engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. About 5 minutes later, the right engine failed for the same reason. The airplane was ditched. The occupants were rescued approximately 7 hours after the ditching.
Post-Incident Details
The airplane has not been recovered and is presumed to be destroyed. The airline transport-rated pilot and commercial pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. According to the pilot-rated passenger, the pilot reset the alternators and voltage regulators after contact was established with the approach control facility.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was total loss of engine power from both engines due to fuel exhaustion after the pilot became lost/disoriented. Contributing to the accident was the delay by the pilot-in-command to execute the emergency procedure by resetting the alternators and voltage regulators following total failure of the electrical system. Also contributing to the accident was the operation of the airplane by the pilot-in-command with known deficiencies in equipment.