20020916023999A

(.19) On September 16, 2002, at 0147 central daylight time a smith Aerostar 601P twin-engine airplane, N90652, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a dual loss of engine power near piedmont, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to aviation flight specialists LLC, of wilmington, Delaware, and was being operated by the pilot. The instrument rated commercial pilot and his one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 91 business flight. The cross-country flight originated from the cambridge municipal airport, cambridge, Ohio, at 2147, and was destined for the wiley post airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to the pilot, he visually confirmed that the both wing fuel tanks and the fuselage tank were topped off prior to their departure from cambridge. The capacity of the Aerostar's fuel system is 178.8 gallons, of which 165 are useable. The airplane departed and was cleared direct to Oklahoma City. The pilot reported that the flight was as expected, with no significant course deviations or unexpected changes in weather conditions, including winds aloft. The pilot reported that he approached wiley post airport and set up for a visual approach to land on runway 17. The airplane was at 700 feet AGL turning from the downwind leg to base leg when both engines lost power. The total flight time was 4.0 hours. During the ensuing forced landing to a field the airplane collided with a fence and came to rest upright. An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that the nose was crushed aft, the firewall was damaged, all six propeller blades were damaged and the empennage was wrinkled. (-23) the pilot stated that he was on base to final when both engines simultaneously quit. The airplane landed in a field approximately 1 mile north of the Sundance airpark with the gear in the up position. The airplane skidded approximately 150 yards and then came to rest on the side of a dyke. Initial inspection of the airplane showed no evidence of fuel in the right or left wing fuel tanks and only a small amount of fuel in the center fuselage tank. The airplane had substantial damage to the pressure bulk head on the right side of the nose. All of the prop blades were bent backwards approxi mately 90 degrees, and some wrinkling of the skin had occurred just forward and below the horizontal stabilizer. Further inspection of the airplane, conducted by inspectors carl keesey and mike miller, found, on the right side of the fuselage center fuel cell lower section, small signs of fuel leaks around fuel line fittings. Inspection of the left side of the fuselage center fuel cell lower section, showed signs of a large fuel leak located at the fuel pump assembly to the bladder flange. Fuel stains were found on fuel lines in the same area. Fuel staining was also found in the aft fuselage area.