20140701010569I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Dehavilland DHC-2 MK.I · Anchorage, AK · July 1, 2014

Date: July 1, 2014 · 10:00 local
Place: Anchorage, AK
Airport: Lake Hood Seaplane Base
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N791PW
Reported as: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK.I
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,600 total25 in this make and model75 in the last 90 days

N791PWRegistered now · Dehavilland DHC-2 MK.IS/N 791 · Built 1955 Airframe modelDehavilland DHC-2 MK.I Engine modelPratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14BReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The aircraft owner started the engine and selected the fuel tank with the least amount of fuel in it, for the purpose of warming the engine prior to take off. The incident airman then boarded the aircraft, and completed the before take off check list but failed to select a fuel tank with sufficient fuel for take off. After lift off, and at approximately 200 feet, the aircraft's engine failed due to fuel starvation. While attempting to land, the incident pilot caused the aircraft's tail cone to contact the water causing minor damage.

As the FAA filed it

THE AIRCRAFT OWNER STARTED THE ENGINE AND SELECTED THE FUEL TANK WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUEL IN IT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF WARMING THE ENGINE PRIOR TO TAKE OFF. THE INCIDENT AIRMAN THEN BOARDED THE AIRCRAFT, AND COMPLETED THE BEFORE TAKE OFF CHECK LIST BUT FAILED TO SELECT A FUEL TANK WITH SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR TAKE OFF. AFTER LIFT OFF, AND AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND, THE INCIDENT PILOT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT'S TAIL CONE TO CONTACT THE WATER CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE.