20180206000319A

The pilot-in-command (PIC) and a pilot rated passenger was dispatched from his home base of st. tammany airport (L31) to pick up two passengers/photographers at galliano airport (gao) for an aerial photo flight over an oil-rig in the gulf of Mexico. The photographers had requested that the rear door be removed from the aircraft so that they may get clear photos from the air. The aircraft is limited by the manufacture to a max speed of 130 knots when the door is removed. The hobbs time at the time of dispatch from L31 was 2978.9. During the preflight inspection the PIC reported that the ?fuel was seen in each tank at the bottom of the sidewall, with the gauges showing 45 a side?.

The PIC reported that he repositioned the airplane to gao, which is approximately 30 minutes of flight time from L31. While at gao, while planning the trip the PIC stated ?feeling I know the aircraft I proceeded with the rest of the preflight?, the tanks indicated 40 gallons each side and he estimated that he had 4 hours of fuel and the trip would take 3 hours with the 130 knot max speed limitation.

The aircraft departed gao for an oil-rig in the gulf of Mexico which was 185 NM southwest of gao. After a flight of 1 hour and 20 minutes the aircraft arrived at the oil rig and the PIC reported that he flew around the rig for about 25-30 minutes. Upon completing his mission, he reported that the fuel gauges indicated 20 gallons a side. At this point, he climbed to cruising altitude and reported that he was 1 hour and 20 minutes from his destination of gao. At this point his fuel gauges indicated 10 gallons a side. He became alarmed, and elected to divert to Patterson airport (ptn). Whenever he was 35-40 minutes from ptn the fuel gauges were indicating 5 gallons a side. He then contacted ATC for flight following and advised ?critical fuel?. Once the gauges indicated 0, he declared an emergency. A few minutes later his RH engine failed approximately 24 NM from ptn. The LH engine failed approximately 8-9 minutes later. Having already briefed the passengers for an emergency ditching, he picked a shallow area along the atchafalaya river to land. Upon landing the PIC and passengers evacuated the aircraft and inflated the on-board life raft. The PIC was able to call 911 on his cell phone and was rescued by the united states coast guard. The aircraft sustained damage on the LH nacelle, leading edges of both wings, and the nose completely separated at the firewall. Additionally, the aircraft was half-way submerged in salt water and mud.

The hobbs meter indicated 2982.7, which is 3.8 hours from the dispatch hobbs. It should be noted, according to the owner of the aircraft; the hobbs meter only runs when the landing gear is in the retracted position and does not record engine run time when the landing gear is extended.