20020620013239A

(.19) ON JUNE 20, 2002, AT 1931 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 337C, TWIN-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N2671S, WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AFTER A HARD LANDING TO A RESIDENTIAL ROAD FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER TO BOTH ENGINES WHILE ON APPROACH TO BIG BEAR CITY AIRPORT (L35), BIG BEAR CITY, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE U.S. FORESTRY SERVICE FOR PUBLIC USE FIRE FIGHTING MISSIONS, AND REGISTERED TO AERO HAVEN INC., OF BIG BEAR CITY. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, AT AN UNKNOWN TIME AND WAS DESTINED FOR BIG BEAR CITY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 26, BOTH ENGINES LOST TOTAL POWER. UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A RESIDENTIAL ROAD. AFTER LANDING HARD ON THE ROAD, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TREE AND A FENCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY AN ENSUING FIRE. (-23) ON JUNE 20, 2002 AT 1931 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, CESSNA N2671C, LOST POWER ON BOTH ENGINES WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE BIG BEAR CITY AIRPORT, BIG BEAR CITY, CA. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON A STREET IN A RESIDENTIAL ABOUT A MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES EXITING THE AIRCRAFT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE NORMALLY SWITCHED TO THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. UPON ARRIVING AT THE BIG BEAR AIRPORT THE PILOT HAD TO MAKE A GO-AROUND BECAUSE AN AIRCRAFT WAS BLOCKING THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. WHEN N2571C MADE THE GO-AROUND, WITNESSES ON THE GROUND NOTICED THAT THE REAR ENGINE'S PROP WAS NOT TURNING. THE PILOT ALSO STATED HE FELT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOSING POWER. WHEN THE PILOT REENTERED BASE LEG TO FINAL, THE FRONT ENGINE FAILED. THE CESSNA PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK HAS A NOTE IN SECTION II (FUEL SYSTEM) THAT STATES THE FUEL SELECTORS SHOULD BE ON "MAIN" FOR TAKE OFF AND LANDING AS WELL AS ALL NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE APPROVED CHECK LIST FOR THE CE-337 REQUIRES THE FUEL SELECTORS TO BE ON THE MAIN FUEL TANKS FOR TAKE OFF AND LANDING. THE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THEAIRCRAFT REQUIRES TAKE OFF AND LANDINGS TO BE MADE WITH THE FUEL SELECTORS ON THE MAIN FUEL TANKS. DURING CHECK RIDES, ADHERENCE TO CHECK LISTS AND PROCEDURES ARE TESTED AND EACH LANDING OBSERVED MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE APPROVED CHECKLIST. THE MAIN AND AUXILIARY TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DUTY DAY. THE AIRCRAFT HAD A TOTAL OF 128 GALLONS OF FUEL. THIS WOULD GIVE THE AIRCRAFT A MAXIMUM OF ALMOST TEN (10) HOURS ENDURANCE AT REDUCED POWER SETTINGS TO MOER THAN FIVE (5) HOURS AT HIGHER POWER SETTINGS. THE PILOT FLEW LESS THAN THREE HOURS WITH THE US FORREST SERVICE AT VARIOUS POWER SETTINGS BEFORE BEING RELEASED FROM THE SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BASE FOR THE 15-MINUTE FLIGHT BACK TO BIG BEAR CITY AIRPORT. DEPENDING UPON THE POWER SETTINGS USED, THE AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE HAD AS LITTLE AS 2 HOURS ENDURANCE AT MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND MAXIMUM POWER SETTINGS TO AS MUCH AS 6 HOURS OF FUEL REMAINING AT MINIMUM POWER SETTINGS. THE TWO AUXILIARY TANKS HOLD 19 GALLONS OF FUEL EACH WITH APPROXIMATELY 18 GALLONS OF FUEL USABLE IN FLIGHT. THE AUXILIARY TANKS PROVIDE BETWEEN .8 AND 1.5 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME DEPENDING ON POWER SETTINGS SELECTED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^