Piper PA-31-350 N200AK

Summary

On 13 June 2007 at about 16:56 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N200AK was involved in an accident near Tuluksak, Alaska, United States. 9 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 June 2007 at 16:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Tuluksak, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Tuluksak (TLT)

Coordinates

61.0969, -160.9695

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N200AK

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalskag → Bethel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC07LA048

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power during cruise due to the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. Factors contributing to the accident were the delayed extension of the gear, and the gear being unlocked at touchdown.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a visual flight rules, multi-leg cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135. The pilot reported that during cruise flight the left engine fuel pressure light illuminated, and when he turned on the emergency pump and switched tanks, the light went out. A few minutes later the right engine fuel pressure light illuminated, he turned on the emergency pump and switched tanks, but the light did not extinguish. When the right engine began to surge he shut the engine down, and feathered the propeller. On short final the left engine began to surge, and he put the gear extension handle in the down position, but the gear failed to fully extend and lock prior to touchdown. The airplane sustained damage to the gear attachment points, and wings when the landing gear collapsed during landing. The pilot said that according to his calculations, the airplane had 1.2 hours of fuel onboard for the 30 minute flight. The FAA air safety inspector who witnessed the defueling of the airplane after the accident, reported that approximately 1 cup of fuel was drained from the left main tank, 1 cup from the left outboard tank, 1 gallon from the right main tank, and 2 gallons from the right outboard tank. The pilot operating manual states that the fuel capacity of the airplane is 192 gallons, and that 182 gallons is usable.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.