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A B60 pilot reported an off airport landing after both engines shutdown in flight because of fuel starvation even though his fuel quantity system indicated fuel on board.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1069702 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201301 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Beechcraft Twin Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Fuel Quantity-Pressure Indication |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 7500 Flight Crew Type 700 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue |
Narrative:
Departed with fuel 100-125 gallons (I thought). I added 60 gallons and aircraft fuel gauges indicated 50 at [my departure airport]. Flight time for IFR filing estimated to be 1:43 which included a 15 KT headwind. Departure uneventful leveled at 14;000 - reduced fuel flow and encountered a mixture control that would only reduce fuel flow to 23.5 gph. Normal fuel burn 19.5/20.5 gph. Approximately 20 minutes from planned landing fuel totalizer showed 20 gallons needed to complete flight. Aircraft gauges showed 20/25 left/right remaining. Right engine failed first attempted to cross feed and within a few minutes left engine started losing power and then both shut down. Lessons:first; never trust aircraft fuel gauges until it is determined the exact readings.secondly; adjust flight profile when normal limits are exceeded. Lastly; if any doubt -land as soon as possible and take corrective action. Flying for 50 years and never thought I would run out of fuel but I was advised by a retired FAA employee to file this report. Even though it said it is not intended for accidents. Reports have been made to FAA and NTSB.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B60 pilot reported an off airport landing after both engines shutdown in flight because of fuel starvation even though his fuel quantity system indicated fuel on board.
Narrative: Departed with fuel 100-125 gallons (I thought). I added 60 gallons and aircraft fuel gauges indicated 50 at [my departure airport]. Flight time for IFR filing estimated to be 1:43 which included a 15 KT headwind. Departure uneventful leveled at 14;000 - reduced fuel flow and encountered a mixture control that would only reduce fuel flow to 23.5 GPH. Normal fuel burn 19.5/20.5 GPH. Approximately 20 minutes from planned landing fuel totalizer showed 20 gallons needed to complete flight. Aircraft gauges showed 20/25 left/right remaining. Right engine failed first attempted to cross feed and within a few minutes left engine started losing power and then both shut down. Lessons:First; never trust aircraft fuel gauges until it is determined the exact readings.Secondly; adjust flight profile when normal limits are exceeded. Lastly; if any doubt -land as soon as possible and take corrective action. Flying for 50 years and never thought I would run out of fuel but I was advised by a retired FAA employee to file this report. Even though it said it is not intended for accidents. Reports have been made to FAA and NTSB.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.