Culebra, PR, USA
N498BH
Beech BE-18
The airline transport certificated pilot was hired to fly the twin engine airplane from Antigua to Puerto Rico. The airplane had not been flown in the previous 12 years, and the initial test flight revealed some discrepancies, including high fuel pressure on the right engine, and a strong smell of gasoline fumes inside the airplane. On the accident date, the pilot said that he was told the airplane had received an annual inspection, and had been fueled with 152 gallons in the main wing tanks. He said he had a conversation with maintenance personnel who told him that there was some residual fuel in the left rear fuel tank, and that fuel in the right rear tank would not feed. The pilot said he departed with 3 hours of fuel on the Title 14, CFR Part 91 flight. About 1.5 hours after departure, he noticed a strong odor of fuel inside the airplane, and shortly thereafter, the right engine lost power, followed quickly by the left engine. He said he suspected a fuel stoppage problem and performed emergency procedures by switching fuel tanks and attempting to restart the engines. The pilot noted that he was unable to cross-feed fuel because the valve handle would turn 360 degrees, without operating properly. He also noted that there was no fuel pressure, and the fuel gauges indicated empty. The pilot was unable to restart either engine, feathered the propellers, and ditched the airplane near the shore of an island. The airplane subsequently sank in about 50 feet of water. The owner of the airplane reported that after the airplane was retrieved, 60 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left wing fuel tank, and 25 gallons was recovered from the right wing fuel tank.
On August 8, 2006, about 1234 eastern daylight time, a wheel-equipped Beech BE-18 airplane, N498BH, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in the ocean, about 200 yards from the west shoreline of Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an international VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the V.C. Bird International Airport, St. John's, Antigua, about 1100, and was en route to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 14, and in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that he had been hired to fly the twin engine airplane from Antigua to Puerto Rico by the new owner of the airplane. The pilot said the airplane had not been flown in the previous 12 years. The pilot conducted a test flight in the airplane on August 5, 2006, from Antigua, and noted some discrepancies, including high fuel pressure on the right engine, and a strong smell of gasoline fumes inside the airplane. The pilot returned to Puerto Rico while the airplane was repaired. On August 8, 2006, the pilot returned to Antigua, and noted that the airplane had received an annual inspection, and had been fueled with 34 gallons of fuel to bring the total fuel on board to 152 gallons in the main wing tanks. He reported that he had a conversation with maintenance personnel, who told him that there was some residual fuel in the left rear fuel tank, and that fuel in the right rear tank would not feed. The distance from Antigua to Puerto Rico is about 253 nautical miles. The distance from Antigua to the accident site is about 215 nautical miles. The pilot said he departed with 3 hours of fuel, and was in cruise flight at 6,500 feet, with a ground speed of 185 knots. About 1.5 hours after departure, the pilot said he noticed a strong odor of fuel inside the airplane, and shortly thereafter, the right engine lost power, followed quickly by the left engine. He said he did not observe any visible evidence of fuel on the outside of the airplane. The flight had just passed the Island of Culebra, and he turned toward the island. He said he suspected a fuel stoppage problem, and did not initially feather the engines, but kept the propellers wind milling while he performed emergency procedures by switching fuel tanks and attempting to restart the engines. The pilot noted that he was unable to cross-feed fuel because the valve handle would turn 360 degrees, without operating properly. He also noted that there was no fuel pressure, and the fuel gauges indicated empty. The pilot was unable to restart either engine, feathered the propellers, and ditched the airplane near the shore of the island. Both occupants got out of the airplane, along with an emergency raft. The airplane sank in about 50 feet of water. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on August 15, the owner of the airplane reported that the airplane had been recovered from the water, and it was en route to Puerto Rico. The owner said that once the airplane was out of the water, 60 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left wing fuel tank, and 25 gallons was recovered from the right wing fuel tank.
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation/exhaustion in all engines for an undetermined reason during cruise flight, which resulted in a forced landing and ditching.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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