What happened
During a positioning flight, the pilot experienced a surge and partial loss of power in the right engine of the aircraft type. In an attempt to stabilize the engine, the pilot adjusted the fuel mixture and power controls. After a second surge, the pilot observed that the fuel flow gauge indicated less than 90 pounds and activated the right fuel pump. Shortly thereafter, the left engine also experienced a surge, prompting the pilot to repeat the same corrective measures. Suspecting a fuel starvation issue, the pilot attempted to divert to an alternate airport, but both engines suffered a total loss of power.
The aircraft subsequently struck trees and terrain approximately 1.5 miles from the airport. While the left fuel tank was breached during the impact, investigators found no evidence of a leak, recovering only about one gallon of fuel from the wreckage. Prior to the flight, the pilot had reported a fuel quantity of 120 gallons; however, records indicated the aircraft had only approximately 50 gallons remaining from its previous flight, with no documented refueling occurring between the two operations.
Findings
Investigation into the fuel system revealed significant discrepancies regarding fuel quantity readings. A company pilot noted that the fuel gauge exhibited an unusual behavior where the reading would rise by 40 to 60 gallons after the electrical power was deactivated. During an examination of a similar aircraft from the same operator, it was observed that the gauge would show approximately 100 gallons when the master switch was on, but would climb to 120 gallons and then drop off the scale once the switch was turned off. Inaccurate fuel gauge readings prevented the pilot from knowing the true amount of fuel remaining in the tanks.