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FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
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3-2764 73/8/5 FT LAUDERDALE,FLA LOCKHEED 1049 CR- 0 0 5 MISCELLANEOUS ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
TIME - 1925 N6202C PX- 0 0 3 FERRY 62, 17000 TOTAL HOURS,
DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL OT- 0 0 0 3000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
RATED.
DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION LAST ENROUTE STOP
FREEPORT,BAHAMAS FT LAUDERDALE,FLA ST PETERSBURG,FLA
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
WHEELS-UP LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
PERSONNEL - FLIGHT ENGINEER: IMPROPER USE OF EQUIPMENT
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP
FACTOR(S)
PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: PUMPS
SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: PROTECTIVE DEVICES
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CORRODED/CORROSION
PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 4 ENGINES
EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
REMARKS- IMPROPER TRANSFER OF FUEL.CIRCUIT BREAKER CORRODED.
A Similar Report from the Aviation Safety Network can be found clicking here
A first hand report from friend Stefan Bailis in Minnesota
The engineer who was supposed to take the flight, Jim Kent, knew about the Eastern modified fuel system, such as installed on N6202C. Jim got delayed in getting to the airport--he lived south of Miami--and thus Happy Hours Air Travel Club got Ed to take the flight instead. Jim remembered getting up to Fort Lauderdale just in time to see the plane taxi out. Ed told me he had the crossfeed valves open but was unaware of the absence of check valves. One of the fuel boost pumps produced less pressure than the others and all the fuel was transferred gradually to that tank (as they were returning to their home base airport, they didn't have much fuel remaining anyway). The NTSB investigation revealed the circuit breaker serving that boost pump had internal corrosion, which limited current flow to the pump. Ed did not--and could not have known that. I forgot to ask him if the quantity guages were working as that could have told him of the unintended fuel transfer. I don't know who the pilot was but he did a great job of gliding it in to the cow pasture!