Accident Overview
The pilot departed on a 90-mile personal flight with eight passengers. He stated he initially had 24 gallons of fuel in the outboard tanks and 80 gallons in the main tanks. After landing, the airplane was refueled with 100 low-lead aviation gasoline; 12 gallons in each main fuel tank. Before departing for the return flight, the pilot performed a preflight inspection that did not include a visual check of the fuel tanks.
After takeoff, the pilot experienced a small surge in both engines while climbing through 1,150 and 3,300 feet. He described the surges as minor but noticeable. About 30 minutes later, after the airplane had descended and was leveling at 1,500 feet, the right aux fuel pump light illuminated intermittently, followed by a total loss of power on the right engine. Shortly thereafter, the left engine began surging, and after about three or four minutes, the pilot feathered the left engine propeller. The airplane was ditched in Massachusetts Bay.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot reported about 1,050 total flight hours, including 800 hours in multi-engine airplanes and 65 hours in the make and model. He had purchased the airplane and attended a 5-day type-specific training course in March 2001. The pilot reported no prior mechanical problems and believed he had flown the airplane the day before the accident. The last documented refueling prior to the accident occurred on May 3, 2001, when the airplane received 128 gallons of aviation gasoline. The last logged flight was on May 4, 2001, for 1.9 hours in the accident airplane. The pilot normally operated at 65 percent power, slightly rich, with a fuel burn of about 20 to 21 gallons per hour for each engine.
Investigation Findings
The airplane was recovered about one month after the ditching. The fuel selectors were positioned to the outboard tanks. Fuel tank contents were consistent with seawater with some odor of fuel, but no visible evidence of fuel was observed. According to the airplane's information manual, total fuel capacity was 192 gallons, with 182 gallons usable. Examination of the airframe and engines revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause: "A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion for undetermined reasons. A factor in this accident was the pilot's failure to visual check the airplane's fuel quantity prior to takeoff."