LANSING, MI, USA
N26SA
Cessna 404
The pilot was departing from Lansing, Michigan, when he reported engine problems. The aircraft subsequently lost power to both engines. Fuel receipts were found that indicate that the aircraft was serviced with 25 gallons of jet fuel in each wing tank. No preexisting anomalies were found with regard to the aircraft or its systems. An FAA inspector interviewed the person that had fueled the aircraft and that person stated he had used a JET-A fuel truck to fuel the accident aircraft. The inspector also interviewed the safety director of the company that provided the fueling service. The safety director told the inspector that the fuel truck used to fuel the accident aircraft was found to have a small nozzle installed on one of the hoses and not the wide nozzle used on jet fueling trucks. He also said that, '...the small nozzle was used for the purpose of fueling tugs at the airport and that the small nozzles were immediately removed from all jet refueling trucks so that this could not happen again.'
On April 15, 2000, at 0743 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 404, N26SA, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an off airport forced landing following a loss of power on both engines, after takeoff from the Capital City Airport, Lansing, Michigan. The cargo flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Caro, Michigan. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft. Fuel receipts were found that indicate that the aircraft was serviced with 25 gallons of jet fuel in each wing tank. No preexisting anomalies were found with regard to the aircraft or its systems. A FAA inspector interviewed the person that had fueled the aircraft and that person admitted that he had used a JET-A fuel truck to fuel the accident aircraft. The inspector also interviewed the safety director of the company that provided the fueling service. The safety director told the inspector that the fuel truck used to fuel the accident aircraft was found to have a small nozzle installed on one of the hoses and not the wide nozzle used on jet fueling trucks. He also said that, "...the small nozzle was used for the purpose of fueling tugs at the airport and that the small nozzles were immediately removed from all jet refueling trucks so that this could not happen again." The FAA inspector had line services put equal amounts of JET-A and 100LL aviation gasoline in a container. According to the inspector's statement, "when JET-A and 100LL gas is mixed the blue color remains quite visible and the predominant smell is that of 100LL gas."
A loss of engine power due to improper fuel. Also causal was the improper aircraft service by the fixed base operator personnel and the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing encountered by the pilot. Factors were the improper grade of fuel and the lack of suitable terrain for the landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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