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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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A C402 pilot changed fuel tanks in cruise flight using improper procedures leading to fuel starvation and engine failure. During relight; pilot lost 2000 ft and changed heading 180 degrees.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 716918 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200611 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bzn.airport |
| State Reference | MT |
| Altitude | msl single value : 17500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Ice |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zlc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 402/402C/B379 Businessliner/Utiliner |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 1000 |
| ASRS Report | 716918 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
After leveling off at 17000 ft MSL; I asked for a block altitude of 17000-19000 ft MSL. It was granted. I climbed to 17500 ft and leveled off for icing. I did not seem to accrue any more ice; but was still IMC. Presently; I had about 1/2 inch of clear ice. Due to ice and horsepower limitations; I could not climb any more. I switched tanks for the right engine to draw from the left tank; at which time the engine quit and was wind-milling. I could not hold altitude; and airspeed decreased rapidly. Once I regained complete control of the situation I noticed I had lost 2000 ft of altitude in seconds; and was off my heading by 180 degrees. ATC informed me of this and I troubleshot the problem. I finally got the right engine restarted and climbed back up to altitude. The ice and loss of engine prevented me from staying at altitude. 1) do not change tanks in icing; unless absolutely necessary. 2) fly the plane and maintain control prior to troubleshooting. 3) I should have turned on the left boost pump prior to changing tanks; not the right. Turn both on next time.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C402 PLT CHANGED FUEL TANKS IN CRUISE FLT USING IMPROPER PROCS LEADING TO FUEL STARVATION AND ENG FAILURE. DURING RELIGHT; PLT LOST 2000 FT AND CHANGED HDG 180 DEGS.
Narrative: AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 17000 FT MSL; I ASKED FOR A BLOCK ALT OF 17000-19000 FT MSL. IT WAS GRANTED. I CLBED TO 17500 FT AND LEVELED OFF FOR ICING. I DID NOT SEEM TO ACCRUE ANY MORE ICE; BUT WAS STILL IMC. PRESENTLY; I HAD ABOUT 1/2 INCH OF CLR ICE. DUE TO ICE AND HORSEPOWER LIMITATIONS; I COULD NOT CLB ANY MORE. I SWITCHED TANKS FOR THE R ENG TO DRAW FROM THE L TANK; AT WHICH TIME THE ENG QUIT AND WAS WIND-MILLING. I COULD NOT HOLD ALT; AND AIRSPD DECREASED RAPIDLY. ONCE I REGAINED COMPLETE CTL OF THE SITUATION I NOTICED I HAD LOST 2000 FT OF ALT IN SECONDS; AND WAS OFF MY HDG BY 180 DEGS. ATC INFORMED ME OF THIS AND I TROUBLESHOT THE PROB. I FINALLY GOT THE R ENG RESTARTED AND CLBED BACK UP TO ALT. THE ICE AND LOSS OF ENG PREVENTED ME FROM STAYING AT ALT. 1) DO NOT CHANGE TANKS IN ICING; UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 2) FLY THE PLANE AND MAINTAIN CTL PRIOR TO TROUBLESHOOTING. 3) I SHOULD HAVE TURNED ON THE L BOOST PUMP PRIOR TO CHANGING TANKS; NOT THE R. TURN BOTH ON NEXT TIME.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.